PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a video conference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues include reopening his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as well as claims for tinnitus, skin cancer, and PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD with associated depression and alcohol dependence was rated at 50 percent from December 1, 2008 to July 20, 2010. From October 1, 2010 onwards, the disability rating remained at 70 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a higher initial disability evaluation of 70 percent effective July 11, 2005. The VA also granted a 50 percent rating for his bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy effective May 11, 2011.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be causally related to fear of hostile military activity during service. The right knee and right elbow disabilities are not determined to be directly related to service, but may be secondary to a service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is found to be related to his service-connected PTSD and its medications, leading to a grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) for loss of use of a creative organ.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, providing the Veteran with a VA examination to assess his PTSD, and readjudicating the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's PTSD causes occupational and social impairment, but not to the extent that it warrants a rating in excess of 50 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a Board hearing. The issues of service connection for sleep apnea and an increased rating for PTSD remain under consideration.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD and determined that there is at least equipoise evidence in favor of a current diagnosis, thus granting service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his PTSD and whether he is unemployable due to this condition. The TDIU rating claim is inextricably intertwined with the PTSD rating claim.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the addition of substantial evidence and his service-connected disabilities meeting the schedular percentage criteria for consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a DRO or Board hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA psychiatric examination. The TDIU claim will be addressed as part of the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, reflecting the severity of his symptoms as described in the rating criteria.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since November 25, 2011. He was previously granted a higher rating of 50 percent effective January 18, 2008.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes PTSD, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and mood disorder, has been characterized by depression, anxiety, trouble concentrating, episodic passive suicidal and homicidal ideation, nightmares, memory loss, and hyperarousal. For the entire increased rating period, it has not met the criteria for a 70 percent or higher disability rating under DC 9411.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since October 9, 2007 and increased to 70 percent effective March 17, 2011. The claim for a higher initial rating remains before the Board.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity since August 1, 2012. His symptoms included chronic sleep impairment, disturbances of motivation and mood, difficulty establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships, difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances, and suicidal ideation.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of this decision.