PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches, hypertension, and gastrointestinal disorder are secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling prior to October 4, 2012. The claim for a TDIU prior to this date has been dismissed as moot due to the grant of a 100 percent rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for increased SMC based on need for higher level of aid and attendance is denied as he does not meet the criteria for receiving SMC at the maximum rate under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(o).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and issues related to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and PTSD. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical records from the South Bend Vet Center, provide VCAA notice regarding personal assault claims, seek alternative sources of evidence, schedule a VA examination, and readjudicate the claim.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for depression disability and bilateral hearing loss is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right knee disorder and denied service connection for it. The claim of entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a left foot disorder due to VA treatment is also denied.,Service connection was denied for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder (Bipolar Disorder), hepatitis C, and a right knee disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to have improved, with symptoms now more closely approximating the criteria for a 50 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety with polysubstance abuse, is being remanded due to the need to verify a claimed stressor and obtain additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development and consideration. The AOJ will review the evidence, including VA outpatient treatment records and a new VA examination, in light of the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD and to determine if he is unemployable due to this disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The initial compensable ratings for healed fracture of the right fifth finger and scar of the right fifth finger remain under consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD does not render her unable to engage and retain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol abuse, panic attacks, and sleep disturbance was found to be less severe than the previously assigned ratings of 70 percent prior to May 13, 2016, and in excess of 50 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Board has granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50% rating prior to September 19, 2008.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development and needs further review by a physician with expertise on herbicide exposure. The Veteran's GERD may be related to his in-service exposure, but more evidence is needed.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU from September 28, 2010 to September 8, 2013 due to his service-connected asthma and PTSD. Prior to this period, he was gainfully employed full-time at the credit union.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest in service or within one year of separation from service and is not otherwise related to service. The claim for secondary service connection was also denied as there was no evidence linking the Veteran's hypertension to his service-connected PTSD.