PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development. The AOJ will schedule a videoconference hearing before the Board at the earliest opportunity.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claim can be adjudicated, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of any current psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating. The evidence shows that his symptoms result in total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran is seeking to establish service connection for GERD, which he claims was caused by his service-connected PTSD. The Board has ordered additional development as the opinion on direct service connection is needed.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's depressive disorder. The appeal is currently in remand status and will be returned to the AOJ after any additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate prior to June 11, 2012, as he did not have a single service-connected disability rated at 100% or be permanently housebound due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for SMC benefits based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status, finding that neither the Veteran's coronary artery disease nor his PTSD acting alone rendered him unable to maintain reasonably gainful employment prior to February 25, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment since September 18, 2009.

The Veteran's TBI and chronic headaches due to head trauma have been granted service connection. The remaining issues are pending.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and he is granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with alcohol dependence renders him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteochondroma of the right knee and back disorder, finding that new and material evidence was submitted. The claims are granted as both conditions are found to be related to active service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD, depression, and alcohol dependence resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating of at least 70 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms caused occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity before February 13, 2015. A rating of 50 percent is granted for this period.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's PTSD due to military sexual trauma and major depressive disorder due to back disability have been reopened, and service connection is granted. The Veteran also received a rating of at least 10 percent for his lumbar spondylosis with intervertebral disc disease prior to July 17, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of the 100 percent rating for PTSD is denied as he did not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating on the date of receipt of his service connection claim for PTSD, and the earliest date entitlement arose to a 100 percent rating was during the November 7, 2012, VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, status post coronary artery bypass grafting, as it was not due to herbicide exposure.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, anxiety and depression, was also denied.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD due to new evidence provided by a VA psychiatrist. However, the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is not found to be related to his military service.