PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective December 1, 2006. The Veteran has also been granted service connection for tinnitus with a 10% disability rating effective December 1, 2006.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, hypertension, and PTSD. The decision found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted, as there is evidence supporting a diagnosis of PTSD related to his confirmed in-service stressor.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and thus denied service connection for this condition. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of left ankle injury, and residuals of left fifth finger injury were also denied as there was no competent medical evidence showing current disabilities.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied in May 2006. The RO received a new application to reopen the claim on May 6, 2009, and granted service connection based on medical evidence of diagnosis at that time.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in significant occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in work, family relations, judgment, and mood since May 1, 2005 but prior to February 3, 2010.,Since February 3, 2010, the Veteran's PTSD continues to result in a significant occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in work, family relations, judgment, and mood.

The Veteran's PTSD was evaluated at various levels of severity from May 6, 2004 to November 27, 2006 and since November 28, 2006. The VA found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent or a rating in excess of 70 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent prior to March 7, 2011. The Board has granted an increased rating of 70 percent for the service-connected PTSD prior to March 7, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and entitlement to TDIU have been granted, effective as of January 21, 2004.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than December 11, 1995, for the assignment of a compensable rating for his service-connected PTSD and dismissed the motion of CUE based on Hyson v. Brown.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service in Vietnam, and granted service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an opinion regarding his employability and considering all of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is unable to find or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board finds that there is at least equipoise evidence regarding whether he can work solely due to these conditions. As such, TDIU is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected based on credible evidence of an in-service personal assault. The other claims for service connection are denied as there is no current diagnosis or supporting evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and whether it is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen and service connection for PTSD, finding that new evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD related to in-service stressors. The Veteran was exposed to combat situations during his Vietnam service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include anxiety and depression. However, the evidence does not support granting this reopened claim on the merits. The Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disability is not related to active service. There is no competent evidence showing that the Veteran currently experiences a skin cancer due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has PTSD related to service and whether he currently suffers from hepatitis B. The appeal will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional information from the Veteran regarding her in-service sexual assault and providing an appropriate VA examination to assess any current psychiatric disorder.