PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed as he has withdrawn them.

The Board has determined that the appellant's PTSD warrants a rating of 70 percent, effective from the date of the grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current tinnitus is etiologically related to his active service, and therefore grants the claim for service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with a 30% rating effective July 14, 2010. The effective date is set at one day earlier than the liberalizing law went into effect.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD and an adjustment disorder with anxiety, resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. However, there was no evidence of reduced reliability and productivity or deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a psychiatric examination to determine the nature and relationship of his current psychiatric disabilities to service. The effective date issue regarding the lumbar spine disability will also be addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not more nearly approximate total occupational and social impairment prior to April 18, 2012. The Board found the evidence of record does not meet the criteria for a 100% disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case for a hearing to be conducted at the RO before a member of the Board or via videoconference.

The Veteran's PTSD does not result in total occupational and social impairment, and his service-connected disabilities do not make him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment. Therefore, the Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for PTSD or TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent prior to September 17, 2015, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeals for PTSD, a right knee disorder, and hypertension have been withdrawn. The claim for service connection for osteoporosis has not been reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The claims for increased ratings for the thoracic spine disability and major depressive disorder remain in appellate status.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a valid diagnosis of PTSD and his psychiatric symptoms do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment during the period of December 14, 2010 through September 9, 2013.

The Veteran's PTSD has not resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a higher rating.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the Veteran's claims may be adjudicated, including obtaining VA examinations and records to determine the etiology of his psychiatric disorders, headaches, and hypertension.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD has been granted, with a 30% evaluation effective from March 22, 2005. The Veteran was previously granted service connection for depression and assigned a 30% evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including adjustment disorder and PTSD, is being remanded due to outstanding records from the Arizona Department of Corrections and Nevada Department of Corrections. The AOJ will attempt to obtain these records and readjudicate the case.