Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2013

The Board is unable to make a final determination on whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The appeal will be remanded to obtain additional VA medical records and Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, is at least as likely as not related to service. The claim for secondary service connection for pes planus remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have service in Vietnam and is not presumed to have been exposed to herbicides. The earliest clinical evidence of many of the claimed disabilities was many years after separation from service, and there has been no demonstration by competent medical or lay evidence of record that any of these conditions are causally related to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for a skin disorder on a secondary basis to obesity, but denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, and whether any such disability is related to service. The examiner must also address the potential stressors claimed by the Veteran.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (other than posttraumatic stress disorder) is not shown to have been present in service or for many years thereafter, nor is it the result of any incident or incidents of his period of active military service. Therefore, his claim for service connection must be denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right eye disability and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, were granted with an effective date of March 8, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, records review, and other development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and confirming stressors.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The case is remanded to allow VA to consider new evidence and provide a VA examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as an examination by a psychologist or psychiatrist.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for any other acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and psychotic depression, as the evidence does not show that these conditions began during active duty or are otherwise related to military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disorder and acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board denied the appeal for accrued benefits, finding that there was clear and unmistakable error in the February 1968 rating decision but did not provide sufficient reasons to determine whether the condition pre-existed service or if any increase in severity during service was due to natural progression.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and ensure proper development of the claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability, including PTSD and Schizophrenia, is related to events in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD was denied as the evidence did not show a current diagnosis of PTSD. The seizure disorder claim is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis and whether any behavior changes may be indicative of a personal assault in service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim. The Veteran's left wrist and left elbow disabilities are also considered, with a recommendation for further examination.