Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was denied as there is no credible evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service stressor that would support the claimed conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining Vet Center records and providing specialized notice regarding military sexual trauma.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling an in-person hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the Atlanta RO. The issues include evaluations for various service-connected conditions and seeking benefits such as special monthly compensation and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and verification of service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to address the significance of the Veteran's in-service gastrointestinal symptoms, nervousness complaints, and basic training disruption due to psychophysiological difficulties. The claim will be readjudicated based on the results of this examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as schizophrenia, is not causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service.

The Board found no current psychiatric disorder separate from the Veteran's service-connected dementia and headaches, thus denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for a new examination to address the Veteran's reported stressors in service, including his fear while serving aboard a ship off the coast of Lebanon. The TDIU claim is dependent on whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA medical examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's schizophrenia and its impact on his employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as there is no verified in-service stressor event and the evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of TBI is granted. The Board also grants a 50 percent disability rating for migraine headaches, effective from January 1, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD was previously denied in 1995, but new evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim. However, there is no objective evidence supporting a sexual assault during military service and the current diagnosis of PTSD does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, a psychiatric disability (including depressive disorder and anxiety), and ischemic heart disease as these conditions are not shown to be related to his active duty.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 30 percent for endometriosis, vaginal cuff with painful defecation is denied. The evidence does not show bowel or bladder lesions confirmed by laparoscopy.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not proximately due to or a result of or aggravated by a service-connected disease or injury. The Board finds the negative opinions provided by VA examiners and psychologists to be highly probative evidence against the claim.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, psychiatric disorder, COPD, and hypertension. The evidence received since the May 2009 rating decision is new and material, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's eye disability, memory loss, and acquired psychiatric disorder were not incurred in service and are not related to any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's partial hospitalizations do not meet VA's definition of a hospitalization under 38 C.F.R. §4.29, and therefore his claim for a temporary total evaluation due to hospitalization is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's myopathy and acquired psychiatric disorder are secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease, while hypertension is not related to his service-connected condition. The claim for hypertension was remanded due to lack of a definitive opinion.