Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate development and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression. However, after reviewing all available evidence, including VA and private medical records, as well as psychological evaluations, it was concluded that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD or other psychiatric condition related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for certain issues, and he is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete development ordered in a previous May 2015 decision. The earlier effective date claims and service connection claims are also being remanded.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for head trauma, chronic headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression and PTSD), and a back disorder. The Veteran submitted new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing on his claims.

The Veteran's kidney disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder were not incurred or aggravated during service, and the Board finds that service connection is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for additional examinations related to the Veteran's claimed conditions. The claims will be readjudicated after these developments.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are granted, with diabetes mellitus type II being presumed due to herbicide exposure and bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus established as a result of in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is found to be aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric disorder and skin condition.

The Board has determined that the gunshot wound sustained on March 6, 1982 was not incurred in the line of duty due to the appellant's own willful misconduct. The claim for service connection for residuals of a gunshot wound and disability due to HIV exposure is denied as these are nonservice-connected disabilities. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is also denied.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including as due to undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability.

The Veteran's claims for reimbursement of unauthorized pharmacy medications obtained from non-VA pharmacies during the periods from October 12, 1998 to September 3, 2003 and November 15, 2003 to September 9, 2005 were denied due to lack of timely filing.

The Veteran's appeal for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital is denied as the inpatient rehabilitation treatment was not rendered pursuant to an emergency, and he has coverage under Medicare Part B.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and service connection are denied. The earliest possible effective date is November 25, 2008, when the Veteran filed his original claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TBI, migraines, dizziness, and photophobia are not service-connected as they did not occur during active duty or are not related to any incident of active service.

The Veteran has withdrawn all of his claims from appellate status, and the appeals are dismissed.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is the result of disease or injury incurred during active military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service treatment records, limited service personnel records, and a need for VA examinations. The Veteran's varicose veins and acquired psychiatric disorder claims are being reviewed.