Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of an acquired psychiatric disorder related to service or secondary to service-connected disabilities, and thus the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, is service-connected. The headaches are rated at 50% effective March 9, 2015.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD related to his in-service stressors and therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, finding that there was no in-service disorder for which service connection could be established.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and earlier effective date, finding no evidence of a current disability in most cases or no causal link to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that there was no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and there is no recent diagnosis prior to his claim. The preponderance of evidence is against establishing service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The Veteran's claim for PTSD was reopened due to the submission of new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, skin disorder, right hip replacement, and left hip vascular necrosis have all been previously denied. The new evidence received since the last final denial does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating any of these claims.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his service-connected migraine headache disability, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for vertigo and granted it. The claims of service connection for a back disability, otitis media, and total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disorders are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew them at his hearing. Posttraumatic stress disorder with dysthymia is found to be incurred in service.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including increased ratings for various knee conditions, arthritis, and Bell's palsy. Additionally, the Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hammer toe, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hypertension, left ankle arthritis, lumbar spine disorder, asthma, and hepatitis C. The appeal is being remanded to allow for a new hearing before a different Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has remanded the appeal for additional examinations and opinions to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a head injury, headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a low back disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board found that there is insufficient medical evidence to support a diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with the DSM, and thus service connection for PTSD was denied. The Veteran's anxiety disorder was also not linked to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches has been granted. The Board found that the Veteran's headaches are related to his military service and thus warrant service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to a scheduling issue and the Veteran is entitled to another hearing before the Board at the Philadelphia RO.

The Board will need to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability was first manifested during service or is related to his military service. The examination should also address whether any pre-existing condition worsened during service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and did not provide sufficient evidence to establish service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and medical opinions. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, is now before the Board.