Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case due to additional development being required, including obtaining medical records and procuring a VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's prostate disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD based on the verified stressor involving the USS Pine Island typhoon. The VA examiner's opinion was persuasive, and there is no evidence of PTSD in the medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence related to the Veteran's psychiatric disability and low back disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and the evidence does not support a finding that he meets the criteria for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further evidentiary development, including obtaining VA treatment records from October 2006 to July 2010. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes PTSD, is now pending and will be reconsidered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for any of the conditions listed in his claims, and therefore, denied all of them.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine the relationship between his service-connected headaches and any current acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disorder is related to service, including physical assaults and alleged sexual assault during service.

The Veteran's claims to reopen service connection for various conditions, including a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, headaches, rheumatism (claimed as leg cramps), residuals of a head injury, restless leg syndrome, insomnia secondary to PTSD, hypertension secondary to PTSD, right jaw disability, right eye disability, bilateral shoulder disability, low back disability, stomach disability, and corneal abrasion of the left eye have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosis of any psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA psychiatric examination. The issues are whether service connection can be granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression) and whether his service-connected disabilities have aggravated his nonservice-connected depression.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of right eye retinal detachment with macular scarring and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The preponderance of evidence showed that these conditions did not have their onset in service or were not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted. The condition is found to be related to his active service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disorder, other than alcohol abuse and personality disorder, due to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service or any incident therein.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating as his disability picture did not more nearly approximate the criteria for any higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and medical inquiry.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to an in-service stressor and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the current severity of his service-connected psychiatric and headache disorders due to TBI, as well as any other relevant symptoms. The claims will be readjudicated after this development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD, depression, or bipolar disorder. The service connection for these conditions is denied as there is no evidence linking them to his active duty service.