Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran meets the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and whether any acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service. The claim will be reconsidered after this development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and hypertension were denied as there is no evidence of a verified in-service stressor or exposure to hostile military activity. The diagnoses are not presumed due to the passage of time since service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and PTSD due to incomplete VA treatment records, failure to notify of new PTSD provisions, and need for further opinion regarding service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a link between his current symptoms and an in-service stressor, despite the Veteran's fear of hostile military activity.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to provide proper hearing notification and scheduling, and the Veteran's request for a local hearing at a VA office.

The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection of PTSD or bilateral knee disabilities due to lack of clinical confirmation and no current disability. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's cervical degenerative joint disease and acquired psychiatric disability were not found to be related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and finds that there is at least a reasonable doubt as to whether the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to his military service. The evidence is in equipoise, thus granting service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and further medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted by the AMC in an August 2016 rating decision, effective February 14, 2011. The appeal concerning bilateral hearing loss is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has decided that the reduction in compensation benefits due to incarceration should be reconsidered as there is conflicting information about whether the Veteran violated probation or parole. The case is being remanded for further clarification.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and cause of the appellant's claimed disabilities, including whether they occurred during active duty service or other periods for which she would be entitled to compensation as a veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder are being remanded due to inadequate notice and the need for new examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining historical information about the Bremerton Naval Shipyard and VA medical records from Birmingham. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD remains pending.

The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for PTSD or any other psychiatric disorder, and the Veteran's current mood disorder is not considered to be related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding development of evidence and potential substitution of the appellant for the Veteran.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD, and assigned a separate rating of 20 percent for painful scars due to burns on the right upper extremity and anterior trunk. The Veteran's claim for a separate rating for his scar on the left forehead was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a new VA examination and to obtain an opinion as to whether his current psychiatric conditions are related to service, including his burn injury in 1986. The case will be returned to the Board after further development.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae is rated at 60 percent since September 6, 2012. The criteria for a rating of 60 percent for cardiomegaly have been met from the date of claim until August 11, 2009. As of August 12, 2009, the Veteran's cardiomegaly is rated at 30 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any injury, illness, or incident during service. Therefore, service connection for this condition was denied.