PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, including work and relationships. The current evaluation of 70 percent is appropriate as it reflects the severity of his disability.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with PTSD, Anxiety Disorder NOS, and Major Depressive Disorder in remission. The Board finds that these conditions are related to his service due to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity he experienced while serving in Vietnam.

The Veteran's hairy cell leukemia and PTSD with dementia are rated at their maximum levels, and additional compensation cannot be granted for these conditions.,The Veteran's left lower extremity neuropathy, right lower extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, and right upper extremity neuropathy are all rated at their maximum levels, and additional compensation cannot be granted for these conditions.,The Veteran is receiving SMC benefits based on the need for a higher level of care.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for a heart disorder, including as secondary to PTSD.

The Board denied a higher rating for PTSD prior to October 24, 2012 and denied TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, left lower extremity sciatica, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression). The Veteran's symptoms were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a completed VA Form 21-8940.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his claim for higher ratings and earlier effective dates are not supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the addition of dependent children T. A., T. M., and T. E. to his award was denied as there is no evidence that prior to May 16, 2008, the RO was aware of their existence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining confirmation of the Veteran's stressor events and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine if he has an acquired psychiatric disorder related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of credible supporting evidence corroborating his reported in-service stressors.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent prior to August 12, 2013. The rating reflects the degree of occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of entitlement to service connection for rashes and entitlement to increased initial ratings for PTSD and scar residual.

The Veteran's claims for increased PTSD disability evaluation, earlier effective date for PTSD service connection, reopening of thoracolumbar spine disorder claim, and TDIU are all denied. The Board finds that a new VA examination is needed to evaluate the current severity of the Veteran's PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect, circumstantial speech, difficulty understanding complex commands, impaired judgment, impaired abstract thinking, disturbances of motivation and mood, and near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently.

The Board found that the reduction in disability rating from 100% to 70% for mood disorder (previously PTSD) was not proper, as it did not show improvement under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Board has determined that the Appellant's daughter, T.L.H., is permanently incapable of self-support prior to her 18th birthday due to severe mental disabilities and finds that she meets the criteria for recognition as a helpless child.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for higher ratings for PTSD and the denial of TDIU prior to a final decision.