Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to his service-connected back disability. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary due to the need for clarification on whether the depression is aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for bipolar disorder and is now addressing it. The Veteran's wife provided additional evidence showing that his psychiatric disorders began within a year of separation from service, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as there is credible supporting evidence that corroborates his lay assertions of in-service traumatic events. The Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD and it is related to an event in service.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disorders and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including as due to service-connected anemia. The initial disability rating for anemia remains at 10 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee and left foot disabilities, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to her active duty. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability remains pending.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, in accordance with VA regulations. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder is not related to service and was not caused or worsened by his service-connected disabilities (diabetes, erectile dysfunction, and chronic gastritis).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and right upper extremity radiculopathy. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and sleep apnea. The Veteran is not entitled to these benefits as there is no current diagnosis of either condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of stressors and a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disability is related to service. The TDIU issue will also be considered.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining specific information about alleged stressors and attempting to corroborate them. A new VA examination will also be conducted.

The Veteran's claims for frostbite residuals of the bilateral lower and upper extremities, nose, and ears have not been established. The claim for acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) has been established with secondary service connection to his service-connected spondylolisthesis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder were not incurred in or caused by service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with verifying the Veteran's claimed in-service events and obtaining a supplemental opinion regarding his psychiatric disability. The Veteran's claim for service connection is currently pending.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder, is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his symptoms.

The Veteran's hypertension has been rated as non-compensable due to the lack of documented diastolic pressure predominantly 100 mmHg or more, systolic pressure predominantly 160 mmHg or more, or a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 mmHg or more with blood pressure controlled by continuous medication.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder. However, the claims for PTSD, bilateral hip disorder, neurological condition of the lower extremities, increased evaluations for lumbosacral spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, left ankle sprain, fracture deformity of the right hand, and nasal fracture with septal deviation have been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition (depression). The left wrist strain claim was reopened, but the Board determined that there is no current diagnosis of a chronic or permanent disability related to service. Claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia and right lower extremity sciatica were also denied.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for skin discoloration, hypertension, PTSD, and toenail discoloration have been denied. The case is being remanded due to a procedural deficiency in the issuance of a statement of the case.