Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, tinea pedis and tinea cruris, polymorphous light eruption (PLE), scars, residual of a shrapnel wound to the right leg, bilateral hearing loss, and residuals of malaria. The Veteran's contentions and treatment records indicate current diagnoses.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including generalized anxiety disorder, major depression, and PTSD, is now reopened for consideration.,Bilateral hearing loss is not service connected due to lack of evidence showing a current disability within one year of separation from service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as SSA records. The Veteran will be provided a new VA examination to determine if his current psychiatric condition(s) are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disability, to include hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development including VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a prostate/scrotal disability were denied. The Board found that the in-service stressors for PTSD could not be verified, and his unspecified depressive disorder was not related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection as his claimed stressor event could not be verified, and there was no evidence of a diagnosis of PTSD based on a corroborated in-service stressor. The Veteran's psychiatric disability is therefore denied.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder, low back disorder, and associated upper and lower extremity radiculopathy are service-connected.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and neuropsychological disorder) is service-connected.,The Veteran's sleep disorder, fibromyalgia, multiple joint and muscle pain, hemorrhoids, recurrent headaches, cardiovascular disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, respiratory disorder, and left eye injury are not service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for further medical examination and development of records.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to his incarceration and the need for additional examinations. The issues include service connection for a sleep disorder, psychiatric disorder, and back strain.

The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, on a direct or secondary basis to migraine headaches associated with TBI. The Veteran's claim of service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a personal assault letter. A VA examination will be conducted to determine the etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorders and hypertension.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis and whether his acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service. The case will be remanded for further review after all available records are obtained.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining clarification on his diagnoses and opinions regarding service connection.

The Board found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims for hepatitis C, acquired psychiatric disorder, eye condition, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2, and degenerative arthritis of the left shoulder. The Veteran's claims were denied as there was no evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, joint pain manifested by undiagnosed illness (Gulf War Syndrome), and bilateral hearing loss were all denied.,No current disabilities related to the claimed conditions were found.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals from a head cyst removal are service-connected, but his bilateral foot disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and PTSD) are not service-connected.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, including arthropathy, strain and osteoarthritis, are related to service. The Veteran also has a current acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD.,Prior to July 13, 2016, the Veteran had Level IV hearing acuity in both ears, warranting a 10% rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder did not manifest in service and was not incurred or aggravated by service. The acquired psychiatric disorder also did not manifest in service and was not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is not service-connected.,Hepatitis C was not contracted during service or due to a service-connected condition. The Veteran's current hepatitis C is more likely related to his intranasal cocaine use in the late 1990s.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches are rated at the highest possible under the rating criteria, with manifestations of very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.,Service connection for PTSD is granted based on the Veteran's reported combat experience.