PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and schizophrenia. The evidence shows that his current diagnoses are related to his period of active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD and any impact on employment. The claim for TDIU will be deferred until after the PTSD rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was dismissed as he did not attempt to challenge the finality of the July 1999 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD. The issue regarding an extension of a temporary total rating will be considered in conjunction with the PTSD claim.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings for posttraumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD has been manifested by reduced reliability and productivity, but not to the extent that would warrant a higher initial disability evaluation.

The Board denied the appellant's request for attorney fees as his representation did not meet the criteria due to the Equal Access to Justice Act awards offsetting the contingency fee.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and a VA examination to determine the current severity of his PTSD. The issue of service connection for a cognitive disorder will also be developed.

The case is being remanded for further development and examination to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. The issues on appeal include whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss, as well as entitlement to service connection for tinnitus and PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case to seek updated treatment records and schedule a VA mental health examination. The Veteran's claims for higher PTSD rating and TDIU will be reconsidered based on this new information.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including a VA examination and readjudication of his claims for an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is incurred in service due to a personal assault, and thus grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, major depression, adjustment disorder, severe anxiety, and bipolar disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his disability picture.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board has also granted entitlement to a TDIU based on service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the criteria for an effective date prior to September 25, 1996, for bilateral hearing loss and prior to January 18, 1994, for TDIU have not been met.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to December 6, 2006 and granted a rating of 70 percent from that date onward.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and diabetes mellitus were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating during the periods specified.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left hand Raynaud's syndrome, a left hand scar, and a left hand gun wound, meet the schedular percentage criteria for TDIU. The Board finds an approximate balance of favorable and unfavorable evidence in favor of the Veteran's claim, granting TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if his PTSD is related to an in-service personal assault and sexual assault.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.