Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disability was denied as the most probative evidence indicated that his current psychiatric condition is due to his own willful misconduct or personality disorder.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed psychiatric disability, such as PTSD, or any other psychiatric condition. The evidence does not support his claim of an in-service sexual assault leading to PTSD. For bilateral hip and left knee disabilities, there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, or nerve damage to the right upper extremity. The Veteran's service records indicate he was wounded in combat during his active duty service but do not provide sufficient information for a diagnosis of PTSD based on his reported experiences.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression and PTSD), a gastrointestinal disorder, and a respiratory disorder. The evidence did not support these claims based on her active duty service in Southwest Asia during the Gulf War.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA psychiatric examination, and providing the Veteran with a supplemental opinion regarding his psychiatric disability claim.

The Veteran's service connection claims for acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, organic heart disease, right leg disability, residuals of head injury (headaches), and left heel contusion were denied as the evidence did not establish a direct relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to afford the Veteran a hearing. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and right knee disorder are still pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and his other psychiatric conditions are not service connected.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including consideration of recent amendments to the regulations regarding PTSD claims and a September 2012 addendum to a December 2011 VA psychiatric examination report.

The Board has denied all service connection claims for the Veteran's kidney disability, sinus disability, hypertension, back disability, multiple joint disability (including arthritis), and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the DSM-IV criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD was denied.

The Board found that the evidence did not establish a direct service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's claim was denied as there is no clear and convincing evidence to contradict her lay testimony regarding in-service stressors.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional information regarding his claimed stressors and to provide him with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep disorder, and residuals of head trauma. The AOJ will also attempt to verify the Veteran's alleged stressors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding exposure to Agent Orange and other chemicals/toxins/gases during active duty for training, as well as a VA examination for thyroid disorder and psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his acquired psychiatric disorder and seizure disorder, are found to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board grants TDIU effective December 30, 2004.

The Board denied service connection for left knee disability and did not reopen the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a psychiatric disability, skin rash, and lumbar spine disability due to incomplete consideration of all pertinent evidence.

The Board has remanded the case to further develop evidence and provide additional examinations for the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, plantar fasciitis, and TDIU claims.