Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2014

The Board denied reopening of service connection for a psychiatric disability and denied service connection for residuals of a head injury. The Veteran's current contentions were previously considered and rejected in prior Board decisions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was incurred in and caused by her military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that there was no evidence of such disabilities during his active duty or within one year post-discharge. The Board also found that any current psychiatric disability is not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for Congestive Heart Failure and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's heart condition was not shown during service or within one year after discharge, and it is not otherwise related to active duty service. For his psychiatric claim, the Board found that there is no evidence of a diagnosed psychiatric disability in service or within one year post-service, nor any indication that such disability is caused by service.

The Board has determined that there has not been substantial compliance with the mandates of previous remands and the case is being returned for further development.

The Board dismissed the freestanding claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of schizophrenia, paranoid type due to finality of the November 1985 rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Service Disorder (PTSD) based on new evidence submitted by the Veteran, which was not previously considered in a prior denial of his claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including as secondary to service-connected hearing loss, was not established. The Board also denied service connection for tinnitus and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the ineligibility of his claimed stressor event and the need for additional VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability did not manifest during service and is not causally related to her military service, including any claimed MST. As such, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and to ensure that all due process requirements are met. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include an anxiety disorder, remains on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that the pre-existing condition did not worsen during service and was not otherwise related to military service.

The Board finds that the evidence does not establish any in-service event or symptoms that would entitle the appellant to service connection for multiple joint degenerative joint disease. The claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD based on personal assault is remanded as additional development is needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records, provide a PTSD examination, and schedule another VA examination regarding his headaches.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed condition and the Veteran did not provide credible support for his claimed in-service stressors. The TDIU issue is also denied due to the Veteran's current service-connected disabilities not precluding him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further examination and review of the evidence, including stressor confirmation.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claim can be adjudicated, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for a psychiatric examination. The Veteran's claim will be remanded to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC).

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current credible diagnosis of PTSD and finds insufficient evidence to establish a link between any psychiatric disorder and service or service-connected disabilities. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete information and need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed due to the unclear opinion from the previous VA examination, and the case is being remanded for further evaluation.