Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder was aggravated by his active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance was granted. The Board found that the Veteran is entitled to a clothing allowance for 2011 due to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. Service connection and increased ratings were denied for left elbow disability, acquired psychiatric disability (other than major depressive disorder), hypertension, tinnitus, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and major depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for an additional VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of the claimed psychiatric disorder, including a sleeping disorder. The Veteran's service-connected fibromyalgia is also considered in determining whether his current psychiatric condition is related to active duty service.

The Board found that the Veteran is not competent to manage her own funds without limitation due to her psychiatric disabilities, which require frequent hospitalizations and poor judgment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's schizophrenia and PTSD are related to his military service, including in-service sexual trauma.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as she withdrew her appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, other than PTSD with paranoid schizophrenia, to include depression.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder or right finger scar due to military service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board found that there is no medical evidence of a PTSD diagnosis and the acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is not related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The evidence submitted since the last denial relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claim and raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for depression, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The claim was reopened due to new and material evidence received since the previous denial.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for psychiatric disabilities and scars of the shoulders, requiring additional development including verification of a fire incident in service and examination.

The Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder and his claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, specifically organic brain syndrome, finding that medical findings clearly and unmistakably reveal that the disability was present prior to service and not permanently worsened by active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including psychotic and affective disorders, is related to his military service. The evidence supports a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for a videoconference hearing at the Columbia RO regarding his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no jurisdiction remains for the Board to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, finding that his symptoms did not meet the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD at any time during the appeal period. The Board also found that there was no evidence of a verified in-service stressor leading to PTSD, and concluded that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder is not related to active service.

The VA psychologist's opinion found that the Veteran's in-service behaviors more likely reflected a personality disorder rather than symptoms or early stages of schizophrenia, and thus did not support service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for the review of additional evidence, including Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricability with his service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration records. The Veteran's bilateral foot disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder are to be evaluated by a VA examiner.