Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, and a disability characterized by obesity or an eating disorder were denied as there is no competent evidence of in-service stressors leading to PTSD, and the claimed disabilities are not shown to be related to service.,There is also insufficient medical evidence to establish aggravation of any current disability by a pre-existing psychiatric condition.

The Board has remanded the case for a supplemental opinion from the VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, pre-existed his military service and if so, whether it was aggravated by service. The claim is also being remanded due to the need for an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify the Veteran's in-service stressors and obtain additional medical opinions regarding his acquired psychiatric disorders. The appeal will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim and determined that her acquired psychiatric disorder existed prior to service but was aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and correctly decide the Veteran's claims, including service connection for PTSD. The case is therefore being remanded for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder were not incurred or aggravated by his service, as they pre-existed his entry into service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional verification of the Veteran's reported stressor and further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder. The decision found that the Veteran did not have a preexisting condition of PTSD or any other diagnosed psychiatric disability in service, nor could it be linked to service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, finding the Veteran did not meet the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. However, the Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, right hand disability (claimed as residuals of a fracture of the third finger), right hip disability, bone disorder (claimed as residuals of fractured ribs), and low back disability have all been denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a diagnosed psychiatric disorder during service and there was no credible evidence of an in-service stressor to support a PTSD diagnosis. The weight of medical evidence is against a nexus between current psychiatric symptoms and service.

The Board has granted service connection for mitral valve regurgitation, but the status of service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder is unknown.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD; left hip disorder; post defecation fecal leakage and stress urinary incontinence. The temporary total disability rating claim was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of exposure to ionizing radiation was denied as there is no evidence that he was exposed to ionizing radiation during his active duty. The Board found that infertility, which the Veteran claimed was due to his alleged radiation exposure, is not a radiogenic disease and therefore not service connected.

The RO proposed to discontinue the Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits, but found that she had been substantially and gainfully employed for at least twelve months. The RO then granted restoration of her TDIU rating.,The RO also restored the Veteran's DEA benefits as they were based on a permanent total service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development and consideration due to incomplete records, lack of proper notification, and other procedural issues.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that the Veteran's statements regarding in-service stressors were inconsistent and not credible.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine the current nature and likely etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's current psychiatric condition and its relationship to his military service. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including personality disorder and depression, is being remanded due to the failure to report for a scheduled hearing. The type of hearing requested by the Veteran needs to be clarified.