PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's diagnosed PTSD was related to military service, and the Board granted service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as intrusive memories, difficulty sleeping, persistent negative emotions, diminished interest in activities, irritability, and feelings of detachment from others. The Veteran was granted a rating of 50 percent for PTSD effective May 19, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened, and the Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of this claim. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is also addressed in the remand portion.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected, and the appeal for hepatitis C has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder is productive of total occupational and social impairment since January 24, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and depression were found to be manifested by symptoms productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking or mood. The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the time period from January 10, 2006 to April 17, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a hearing before a Decision Review Officer at the RO to address his claims of increased rating for nasal septal deviation and entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have caused an inability to maintain substantial gainful employment, but not total social impairment.,A TDIU is granted for the period from March 15, 2011 to April 17, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no credible evidence of in-service stressors or a diagnosis of PTSD. The Veteran's claimed conditions were not found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD was previously rated at 30 percent prior to February 3, 2014 and increased to 70 percent beginning that date. The Board found the evidence did not meet criteria for a higher rating in either time period.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they do not meet the criteria for a 70 or 100 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD did not render him unemployable prior to February 14, 2013. Therefore, a TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD prior to October 3, 2008 did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation as his symptoms were not severe enough to warrant a rating above 50 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have caused reduced reliability and productivity, but not total occupational and social impairment. The right knee disability has been manifested by flexion limited to 120 degrees and extension to 0 degrees without ankylosis or other severe functional limitations. The left knee disability has also been manifested by flexion limited to 100 degrees and extension to 0 degrees, but without ankylosis or other severe functional limitations. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective April 20, 2009. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's major depression/depressive disorder is found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD with panic disorder, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the existence and etiology of any currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The examiner must also provide an opinion regarding whether it is at least as likely as not that any currently diagnosed psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, is related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for epileptic seizures and PTSD was denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have PTSD, but did find sufficient evidence to grant service connection for depression and panic disorders.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent effective September 22, 2014. Service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus and right pyriform squamous cell carcinoma (claimed as larynx cancer) is denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or herbicide exposure. Service connection for post-myocardial infarction coronary artery disease (CAD) is also denied. The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected disabilities does not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU.