Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a valid diagnosis of PTSD and his current psychiatric disabilities are not related to service or to service-connected hearing loss or tinnitus. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and denied his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and MDD.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and his acquired psychiatric disorders are due to willful misconduct. His left knee disability is service-connected but the initial rating assigned was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD was denied as there is no independent verification of the reported in-service stressor involving the death of his friend. The Board found that the Veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and therefore, the claimed stressor must be corroborated by credible supporting evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are reasonably shown to have contributed to his acquired psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The Board finds that the criteria for entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, as secondary to service-connected disabilities, are met.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened, but his claim for ischemic heart disease remains denied as the evidence does not support a direct relationship to service.

The Board has reopened the claims for schizophrenia and genital herpes, but denied service connection for both conditions. The bronchitis claim was granted based on new evidence submitted since the May 1992 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions were denied, and the Board found no new and material evidence to reopen any of these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a request for a hearing. The Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo and PTSD are currently on appeal.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for organic heart disease. The Veteran does not have PVD, a psychiatric disability including PTSD and depression, hypertension, or a respiratory disability attributable to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for a major depressive disorder and an anxiety disorder, finding that these conditions had their onset during the Veteran's periods of service. The skin disorder claim is remanded as it relates to exposure basis (Agent Orange) which was not addressed in the July 2012 remand.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including whether it is related to his service-connected headache disorder or military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing at the RO, and will not make any determination on the merits of the claims until further notice.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including requesting deck logs and obtaining a VA psychiatric examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD is also being reviewed.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to a service-connected left foot disability. The appeal is unclear on the basis of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was not shown to be related to his military service and is not considered secondary to any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and finds that new evidence supports a finding that his current condition is related to his military service, including within one year post-service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain information about his claimed stressors, and for VA examinations to determine the relationship between his service-connected disabilities and any psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability will also be addressed.