PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was moot due to his increased rating of 100% for PTSD effective from August 13, 2001.

The Veteran's PTSD is productive of a disability picture that more nearly approximates occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. The Board has determined that the criteria for an initial disability evaluation of 30 percent (but not higher) for PTSD have been met.

The Veteran does not have PTSD currently and has not had it at any time during the pendency of this claim, thus service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination and consideration of recent outpatient treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of stressors and need for further examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as he has a confirmed diagnosis of PTSD related to his service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressors and the diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder. The claim will be further developed by obtaining service personnel records, verifying alleged stressors, and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depression has been rated at 50 percent since June 4, 2008. The rating is based on the severity of symptoms such as intrusive thoughts, avoidant behavior, and hyperarousal.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by active military duty and denied his claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss due to additional development being required.

The Veteran's service-connected status post operative hemithyroidectomy and isthmectomy is not manifested by any residual symptoms, and the evidence does not show fatigability or that it requires continuous medication for control. The Veteran's insomnia was not caused or aggravated by service-connected status post operative hemithroidectomy and isthmectomy. A psychiatric disability other than PTSD was not incurred in active service; it was not caused or aggravated by service-connected status post operative hemithroidectomy and isthmectomy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found that there was no credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors related to posttraumatic stress disorder, and the Veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy. For hearing loss, the VA examination showed auditory acuity levels II in both ears, which do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes and an increased rating for PTSD. The Veteran was not diagnosed with diabetes during the appeal period, and there is no evidence to support a current diagnosis. For PTSD, the Board found that while the Veteran experienced significant symptoms consistent with his claim, he did not meet the criteria for a 70% or higher rating due to deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated as 30 percent disabling from May 16, 2005 to December 9, 2007 and as 50 percent disabling since December 10, 2007. The Board granted a higher rating of 70 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone is currently shown to be productive of a severe level of disablement that would preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful employment, when considering his work and education background. Therefore, the Board finds that a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability is warranted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was denied as the evidence did not show that he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities prior to March 19, 2003.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to be the primary cause of his current cardiovascular condition, warranting service connection for this secondary disability.

The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, the highest schedular rating available. The disability picture does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it does not demonstrate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking or mood.

The Veteran's PTSD is not manifested by total occupational impairment, or by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The claim for an increased evaluation for PTSD has been denied.