PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the criteria for a TDIU have been met.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder to include PTSD due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final denial. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of these conditions which are related to his military service. For the bilateral feet condition, a new VA examination is needed as the previous one did not address the Veteran's assertions regarding the origin of his bone spurs during service.

The Board found that the interruption of vocational rehabilitation benefits was proper and that achievement of a vocational goal is not reasonably feasible for purposes of entitlement to vocational rehabilitation under Chapter 31.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hepatitis C and there is no evidence linking his claimed conditions to active military service. The Veteran's PTSD may be related to in-service assault, but further examination is needed to determine if it is related to combat support operations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including requesting an addendum opinion from the VA psychiatrist and clarifying the VA orthopaedic examination report. The issues of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) and a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected toe injuries are pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD in the medical records.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection of a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD.

The Veteran's tinnitus is likely related to his service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issue of entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for right ear hearing loss was withdrawn by the Veteran prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal seeking an increased rating for PTSD, and the Board has dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive and panic disorders is rated at 50 percent, which adequately reflects the severity of his disability. The evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD based on MST, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his reported military sexual trauma.,Service connection was also established for tinnitus, with the Board concluding that noise exposure during active duty is causally linked to the condition.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since February 26, 2004. The Board finds that the evidence supports a higher rating of 70 percent for PTSD due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD and determined that new evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD related to an in-service stressor. The Veteran's service includes exposure to witnessing another servicemember being shot, which is considered a verified stressor.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of allergic rhinitis, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), onychomycosis, and hypertension. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure or other diseases associated with such exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of the decision. His bilateral hearing loss disability remains noncompensable.

The Veteran's service-connected vascular headaches are currently rated at 30 percent prior to December 12, 2008 and at 50 percent from that date. The claim for a compensable rating for vascular headaches is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent disabling, effective July 21, 2007. The symptoms include mild chronic sleep impairment, occasional panic attacks, mild memory loss, disturbances of mood and motivation, flattened affect, intrusive thoughts, startling easily, weekly nightmares, and hypervigilance.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of this claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, Type II Diabetes Mellitus, Tinnitus, and Bilateral Hearing Loss) produced a combined disability rating of 60 percent from November 24, 2007 to March 8, 2010. However, the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability were not met during this period.