Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to secure SSA records and obtain a new medical opinion regarding the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected left shoulder disability, as well as claims for other disabilities and benefits. The Board has ordered remand due to incomplete records and the need for additional development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder has caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but not total occupational and social impairment. Therefore, a disability rating of 70 percent is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further evidentiary development, including verification of periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA service. An additional VA mental health examination is also needed to determine when any acquired psychiatric disorder(s) manifested in service or were aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that is related to his military service.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for PTSD, and the Board finds that there is a link between current symptoms and an in-service stressor.,The acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD and already service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder, to include insomnia and major depressive disorder, will be addressed separately.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issue remains unresolved as to whether he should be granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling VA examinations to evaluate his service-connected conditions and the etiology of his claimed psychiatric disorder.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity cold injury residuals. However, new and material evidence was not received within one year of its issuance, making the November 2009 rating decision final. The Veteran's claims for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder are also addressed on remand.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 24, 1979 for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's original claim was received on that date.

The Board found that the appellant's bad conduct discharge is a bar to VA benefits, and denied service connection for back disorder, heart disorder, psychiatric disorder, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims due to incomplete development and the need for additional examinations. The claims will be reviewed again after all requested records are obtained.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in relative equipoise regarding a finding that current hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, dysthymic disorder, and panic disorder) were caused or aggravated by service-connected diabetes. As such, the claims are granted.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability and an upper respiratory disability, as new evidence received since the last denial supports these claims.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and hepatitis C. The Veteran's claims were not supported by credible evidence of a stressor or a causal link to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability and psychiatric disorder are not related to service or a service-connected condition, thus denying both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and his other psychiatric disorders are not shown to be related to service. Therefore, service connection for both PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder first having onset during active service or being etiologically related to active service, including as secondary to service-connected residuals of head injury rated as headaches and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his acquired psychiatric disorder, hypothyroidism, right heel spur syndrome, and hemorrhoids. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's stressors during military service are considered sufficient to meet the criteria for PTSD and his current diagnosis is related to his in-service experiences.