PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and bilateral pes planus are being remanded due to his failure to appear at a previously scheduled hearing, and he has requested a new hearing and transfer of his file.

The Board has granted an initial disability evaluation of 30 percent for the appellant's service-connected PTSD, effective March 2012. The appeal regarding earlier effective date and TDIU is pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran meets the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders due to service. The examiner must assess all current psychiatric disorders in conformance with the DSM-IV and determine their etiology.

The Veteran's PTSD more nearly approximates occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a disability rating of 50 percent.

The VA determined that the appellant's service-connected disabilities do not require regular aid and attendance, as he is able to perform most daily activities without assistance.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and a bilateral knee disorder were denied. The claim for service connection for eczema was granted with the assignment of presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and his asbestos-related pleural disease with pleural nodules are not compensable. The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's symptoms were diagnosed as adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, but the VA examiner found that these did not meet the criteria for PTSD under DSM-IV.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD has been withdrawn due to his grant of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a PTSD compensation examination. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50% prior to September 13, 2012, and increased to 70% as of that date. The appeal is for an increase in the rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and bipolar disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since the grant of service connection, reflecting moderate occupational and social impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions are due to combat stressors. Service connection was also granted for Reiter's syndrome.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a travel board hearing.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in total disability due to service-connected conditions, warranting a 100% disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70% from August 24, 2007 to April 14, 2011. After that date, the rating remained at 70%. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has not been assigned a compensable evaluation since August 24, 2007 and no higher than 20% on or after February 14, 2013.,The Veteran's PTSD was rated based on the criteria for a 50% disability rating due to symptoms such as flattened affect, panic attacks more than once a week, difficulty understanding complex commands, impairment of short- and long-term memory, impaired judgment, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty establishing effective work and social relationships. The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70% based on the criteria for a 70% disability rating due to symptoms such as suicidal ideation, obsessional rituals, near-continuous panic or depression affecting ability to function independently, impulse control issues, spatial disorientation, neglect of personal appearance and hygiene, difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances, and inability to establish effective relationships.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial rating of 30 percent prior to September 28, 2011 and increased to 70 percent from September 28, 2011 through May 22, 2013. The Board found that the symptoms met the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment, warranting a 30 percent disability rating.

PTSD was rated at 70 percent effective January 19, 2006.,Left ankle disability was rated at 30 percent prior to October 14, 2009 and 70 percent from February 1, 2010 onwards.,Migraine headaches were initially rated at 10 percent before February 12, 2013 and 50 percent thereafter.