PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for residuals of TBI was denied, but he received a noncompensable rating for PTSD. The decision did not address service connection for grinding teeth or peripheral neuropathy.

The Board granted service connection for a deviated septum and PTSD, finding that new evidence had been submitted to reopen the claims.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was found to warrant a disability rating of 50 percent prior to March 18, 2013.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU beginning on December 6, 2006 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU beginning on and after November 30, 2015 is moot as it would be a duplication of the existing disability picture.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD disability has been found to preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU effective January 2005.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD was denied in June 2008, but new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim. Service connection is granted for left and right knee disabilities due to a motor vehicle accident in 1983. The rating assigned is 10% for each knee disability.

The Veteran's PTSD claim has been reopened and service connection is granted. For the period prior to January 28, 2016, a 50% disability rating for migraine headaches is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, singly or jointly with some other condition, were not the immediate or underlying cause of death or etiologically related thereto; nor did they contribute substantially or materially to the Veteran's cause of death.,Cancer was first shown years post-service and is not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since November 17, 2005. The Board found that an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD prior to January 22, 2007 is not warranted due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on social and occupational functioning. A rating in excess of 30 percent from April 1, 2007 until September 22, 2008 was also denied as there were no findings indicating a level of impairment warranting such a higher rating.

The Board finds that compelling circumstances have been shown to justify the appellant's extended absence from April 1968 to October 1968, and therefore the character of his discharge does not constitute a bar to VA benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinea pedis do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, necessitating the grant of SMC at the aid and attendance rate.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are sufficient to bring his combined disability rating to 90 percent, with at least one disability rated 40 percent or higher; taken together, these service-connected disabilities preclude the Veteran from maintaining gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further research on his claimed in-service stressor and a new examination to determine if he has PTSD related to military service. The TDIU issue is also remanded.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 80%, meeting the schedular requirements for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. However, he is currently employed in a stable IT job and has successfully completed his associate's degree, indicating that his service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 100 percent, the highest possible rating under VA guidelines. The RO should also consider whether he is eligible for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD caused significant impairment from March 18, 2010, to September 29, 2013. Since then, he has been unable to hold a job and gave up his weapons licenses due to safety concerns.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and completing development of his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's hypertensive cardiovascular disease with renal impairment and pacemaker is rated at 100 percent from March 11, 2010. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since February 14, 2008. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 requires a compensable rating. There are no compensable ratings for impotence, urticaria, or headaches.