PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied as there was no intervening claim prior to November 18, 2011.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted effective April 12, 2013. He is currently rated at 30 percent for PTSD prior to March 14, 2014 and 50 percent thereafter.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD due to new evidence showing a current psychiatric disorder. However, the evidence does not establish that the Veteran currently suffers from PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, while his acquired psychiatric disability is not shown to be due to service. As a result, these claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted based on his reported in-service personal assaults and combat experiences.

The Board has granted an initial 70 percent disability rating for the service-connected PTSD, effective from August 19, 2010. The issues of entitlement to higher ratings and TDIU remain pending.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or at the housebound rate was received in February 2015. The effective date assigned is February 19, 2015, but no earlier. However, his claim for a higher rate of SMC based on the need for a higher level of A&A for his spouse has been denied as there was already retroactive grant of benefits during the period when his spouse needed aid and attendance.

The Veteran is not unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from November 16, 1968 to October 19, 1994 due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD did not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent, and denied entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since October 21, 2009 and denied for a higher rating. Since October 27, 2011, the Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and outstanding VA treatment records, and the Veteran's request for a hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, as likely as not, preclude him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment. The Board finds that the service-connected disabilities are of sufficient severity to preclude the Veteran from maintaining gainful employment and TDIU is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations in the original decision. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current acquired psychiatric disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, as well as hypertension.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol abuse and dementia resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70% disability rating. The decision granted the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD due to worsening symptoms since the February 2016 VA psychiatric examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed PTSD stressor was not credible and denied service connection for PTSD. The acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, is also denied as there is no direct evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran is granted a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD, effective from the date of the decision. The appeal for entitlement to TDIU is dismissed as his PTSD alone precludes him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted a rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder effective February 26, 2008 and a rating of 70 percent effective April 15, 2016. The claim for TDIU is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder are related to his service during Operation Just Cause in Panama, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD was not incurred in service or caused by service, to include as due to military sexual trauma. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is also denied.