Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and residuals of a head injury are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals for all issues, including service connection claims and an increased rating claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service records and VA examinations to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals dismissed the motion for clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in a December 2013 decision denying an earlier effective date for service connection of a psychiatric disability.

The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and other psychiatric disorders are not related to service. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc and joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine, right foot heel spurs, left foot heel spurs, and OSA are all granted. The claim for PTSD is denied as not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for a headache disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), and obstructive sleep apnea on a secondary basis due to his service-connected tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and headaches.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is not related to his military service and is not secondary to a service-connected disability. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran experienced a verified stressor associated with his claimed PTSD and there is no credible supporting evidence of any in-service stressful events. Additionally, there is no medical evidence linking any diagnosed psychiatric disorders to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss or an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder and respiratory disability, as well as issues related to service connection.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically depressive disorder, is not related to service or his service-connected PTSD. The Board finds that the lay statements of record are outweighed by the VA examiner's opinion.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the hysterectomy claim. The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, sinus disorder, and right knee disorder have been denied. The TDIU claim is also denied.

The Board found no evidence of a current psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder, and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. For the lumbar spine disorder, the VA examiner concluded that the condition was less likely than not incurred in or caused by service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically claimed as PTSD, is denied. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that he has a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other diagnosable psychiatric disorder.,Service connection for a cervical spine disability and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities is also denied. The Veteran's current disabilities are not shown to be related to his active service.

Service connection established for lower extremity radiculopathy and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD and depression).,A 40 percent rating was granted for the lumbar spine disorder prior to September 23, 2016. The Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,A 10 percent rating was granted for the lumbar spine disorder as of September 23, 2016. The Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,A 60 percent rating was granted for the cardiac disorder prior to February 25, 2013. The Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability has been rated at 50 percent since August 1, 2017. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher rating are not met prior to this date.

The Veteran's claim is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion on whether his alleged stress and anxiety during training in Okinawa would satisfy DSM-5 criteria for PTSD. The examiner should also address whether any currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral plantar fasciitis and a psychiatric disorder other than posttraumatic stress disorder and major depression, including a bipolar disorder are denied as there is no evidence of a connection between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The remaining claims are dismissed due to withdrawal of appeal.