Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2014

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury and granted service connection for a mood disorder. The claims for service connection for psychiatric disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to technical difficulties with the hearing transcript. The case will be returned for scheduling a new videoconference hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) has been withdrawn.,Service connection for PTSD was denied as the claimed stressors were not verified and there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD.,Compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for bilateral burn scars of the arms due to VA treatment was denied due to lack of causation by VA's fault.,Compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional disability of the left eye due to VA treatment was denied as there is no evidence that the event was not reasonably foreseeable.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity as to effectively preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment for which the Veteran's education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him, thus granting TDIU.

The Board has denied all service connection claims as the Veteran does not have any diagnosed disabilities for which he can be granted service connection.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) and upper-GI system disorder (GERD) are not found to be related to service. The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current urinary/ bladder disorder, nor is there evidence of any skin or peripheral neuropathy. Service connection for cataracts is granted as they are proximately due to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and expert opinions, as well as verifying in-service stressors. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the expanded evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. However, there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between his current psychiatric disorders and his active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, to exclude PTSD, was not incurred in or caused by active service and denied his claim.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include bipolar affective disorder; PTSD; residuals of abrasions of the right hand; and a right knee disorder. The evidence submitted since January 2003 raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's diffuse arthralgia of the ankles, knees, and hips is considered to be due to his January 2003 anthrax vaccination. His psychiatric disorder is also linked to this same exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and providing the Veteran with new VA examinations to address the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to a lack of credible supporting evidence that corroborates his claimed in-service noncombat related stressor.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is being remanded. The issue of whether the character of his service from February 1985 to July 1987 is a bar to VA benefits is also being remanded due to procedural errors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder), and bilateral upper extremity diabetic polyneuropathy have been granted. The claim for service connection for a mouth disorder remains denied. An effective date prior to December 5, 2006 has been granted for the award of service connection for back, neck, and left knee disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for his lumbar spine disability prior to July 26, 2012 and for service connection of a mental disorder. The TDIU claim is also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability was not manifested during service and is not otherwise related to his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling appropriate examinations. The issues of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to a TDIU are within the jurisdiction of the Board.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection due to lack of a current diagnosis and no direct link between the claimed conditions and service.