Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2013

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding no new and material evidence. The Veteran did not have a valid diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric condition that was causally related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, and for a skin disability were denied as there is no credible evidence of the claimed stressors or any current diagnosed conditions being related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disability related to service or any service-connected disability, and therefore denied service connection for a psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected residuals of a right facial zygomatic fracture, to include pain and headaches, was denied. The effective dates for the awards of service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder were granted earlier than January 14, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of June 28, 2010, for a 50% disability evaluation for his psychiatric disorder is granted. The effective date was determined based on the fact that the Veteran became entitled to this rating on June 28, 2010, when he began reporting for VA psychotherapy.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of all relevant evidence.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include a depressive disorder. The evidence now shows that he has a current psychiatric condition related to his active service. Service connection is granted for this condition. The Veteran also has hypertension and other conditions which are being remanded for further review.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and remanded it for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the current psychiatric disorder is related to service. The Veteran's file must be made available to the examiner.

The Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD that had its onset during active service or is related to any in-service disease, event, or injury.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and clarifying whether the Veteran served in combat situations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD due to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the character of discharge for the Veteran's period of service was dishonorable due to felony convictions associated with rape and attempted rapes. The claims for mental trauma, sexual dysfunction, lumbar spine disorder (residuals of back strain), bilateral knee disorder (arthritis of knee), and acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD have all been denied as they are not supported by the evidence.

The Veteran does not have a current acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, including depression, that can be attributed to active service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran developed an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression and PTSD, during active military service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, including depression, dysthymia, general anxiety disorder and schizophrenia is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence without a waiver of consideration by the RO.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnoses of intermittent explosive disorder and personality disorder, not otherwise specified, with schizoid and paranoid traits, are consistent with his in-service diagnosis for which he was discharged. The examiner opined that there is clear and unmistakable evidence that service enlistment did not result in aggravation of these preexisting conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied. The Board finds that there is no current diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder and the Veteran has not provided credible evidence of an in-service stressor resulting in such a disability. However, the Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records, including a VA psychiatric examination conducted on January 9, 2013.