Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2014

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and his psychiatric disorders are not presumed to have been incurred in service. The preponderance of evidence fails to establish a relationship between his current psychiatric conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability was granted a 50 percent evaluation from January 2, 2003 to November 14, 2008.

The Board found that the Veteran's fibromyalgia and acquired psychiatric disorder were not incurred or aggravated by active military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability was granted effective September 19, 2013. Service connection for PTSD secondary to the lumbar spine disability was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a new VA examination and reviewing existing medical records. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is on appeal.

The Veteran's left ankle disability was reduced from a 20% to a 10% rating, effective June 2, 2014. The Board found that the reduction was improper and restored his benefits.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (depression) was granted as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and chronic bronchitis are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records from a private psychiatrist and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for hepatitis C was reopened and granted. His claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to report for a scheduled Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after he attends the hearing at the earliest available opportunity.

The Board has reopened several previously denied claims of service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disability, left ankle disability, throat/cough disorder, right ankle disability, bilateral foot disability, and ear disability. The decision is mixed as some issues have new and material evidence presented while others do not.

The Veteran's stomach cancer was not present in service or until years thereafter and is not etiologically related to service, including Agent Orange exposure. The psychiatric disability claim remains pending as no basis for presumptive service connection has been provided.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development to determine if the appellant meets the requirements of a 'Veteran' and to obtain private medical records, including those from her Caesarean section in August 2006. The VA will also seek a gynecological examination to assess the nature and etiology of her claimed residuals of Caesarean section.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia was denied in July 2007 and again in April 2009. The effective date of the grant of service connection is set at April 6, 2012.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II; skin disorder, including psoriatic arthritis; liver disorder, including cirrhosis; portal hypertension; and esophageal disorder prior to a decision by the Board.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's mention of possible psychiatric treatment records from a Federal Correctional Institution in Milan, Michigan. The RO is instructed to obtain these records and consider them in the decision.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied, but he is granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and a skin disorder. The decision on the PTSD issue is mixed (some issues were granted, some not), while the others are clearly denied.

The Board has granted service connection for acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, specifically Major Depressive Disorder. The claim for PTSD is denied due to lack of evidence meeting the diagnostic criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder and determined that the Veteran's employment is not in a protected environment, thus denying his claim for TDIU. The combined disability rating of 70% meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current heart disability and acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically major depressive disorder, are related to his service. The heart condition is presumed to have started during service due to a myocardial infarction ruled out in 1988. The psychiatric disorder is presumed to have begun prior to service based on stressors experienced during the Veteran's last period of active duty.

The Veteran does not have an innocently acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, MDD, anxiety disorder and OCD, due to disease or injury that was incurred in or aggravated by service; nor may a psychosis be presumed to have been incurred therein.