PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and he has been granted a TDIU based on his combined disability rating.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder with PTSD and depression is currently rated at 70 percent, but not higher, throughout the claims period.,The Veteran's posttraumatic headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and verifying his reported stressors. A VA examination will be scheduled to determine if any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety and sleep disturbance, is related to in-service military sexual trauma. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as PTSD, has been rated at 30 percent since April 30, 2010. The Board finds that the current rating of 30 percent is appropriate given the severity and frequency of his symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD with related depression has been rated at 70 percent since November 5, 2013. The symptoms have caused significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability and residuals of bilateral toe surgery, concluding that his personality disorder pre-existed service and is not related to military service. The Veteran was also unable to establish a current disability due to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an examination to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain medical records and verify service exposure. The Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes, a psychiatric disability (including PTSD), and a headache are still pending.

The Veteran's PTSD did not cause total occupational and social impairment prior to August 1, 2012. For the period from February 11, 2013, to March 2, 2014, it caused significant impairment but not total.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to May 24, 2015 is denied as the evidence does not support that his PTSD prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, diagnosed as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, is currently rated at 50 percent prior to February 23, 2016, and in excess of 50 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic ear infections and TDIU prior to September 16, 2013 was denied as there is no current evidence of a chronic ear infection disability. The Board found that the Veteran could still secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his age and economic factors.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in total social and occupational impairment, warranting a 100% disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since November 9, 2009. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms did not warrant a higher rating as his disability only caused occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his service-connected PTSD. The issues of entitlement to an increased disability rating for PTSD and TDIU are intertwined and must be addressed together.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted and assigned a 70% evaluation effective February 16, 2017. The appeal for an earlier effective date remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability, pes planus, hepatitis C, and PTSD were not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted, as his reported stressors are consistent with his military service and he meets the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, but finds that there is no evidence of a confirmed diagnosis of PTSD related to active service.