Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations, including a psychiatric examination and a gastrointestinal disorder examination.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's reported stressor was adequate to support a diagnosis of PTSD but did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for peptic ulcer disease, psychiatric disorder, and low back disorder were denied. The case is remanded to obtain private treatment records and conduct a VA examination.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic back disability during service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.,The Board also found no evidence of a chronic psychiatric disorder during service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during service and is related to in-service noise exposure. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, which likely had its onset during service. The right and left knee disabilities are not established as having their onset during service.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred from July 25, 2013 to September 10, 2013 are barred as a matter of law due to the nature of his treatment and custody by local/state officials. VA is unable to pay for or reimburse these expenses.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an inadequate VA examination in October 2012. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's schizophrenia is related to his active duty service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if any currently diagnosed psychiatric disorders are etiologically related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for a psychiatric disability and SMP benefits due to incomplete examination reports, lack of rationale in opinions, and need for further development. The TBI claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorders, hypertension, tinnitus, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, left hip disability, right knee and left knee disabilities, right ankle and left ankle disabilities, left heel disability, and left shoulder disability were denied as the evidence did not support a nexus to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, including bipolar affective disorder, anxiety disorder, psychosis NOS, and schizophrenia, are related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a verified in-service stressor and meets the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Service connection is also granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, but only to the extent it is related to his now service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied due to lack of a diagnosis meeting DSM criteria.,Claims for joint pain and an acquired psychiatric disorder were previously denied, but new evidence has not been submitted that would reopen these claims.

The Board has reopened the claims of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability, left wrist disability, upper back disability, mid-to-low-back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, and PTSD. The Veteran's reports of inservice acoustic trauma are accepted as credible evidence of an in-service event. Service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is not service-connected due to lack of credible supporting evidence for his claimed stressors. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for an initial, compensable rating for scars was not addressed as the issue is unclear.,The Veteran's hypertension secondary to prostate cancer has been granted service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be incurred in service, while his bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder were not related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to scheduling issues for a hearing before the Board. The Veteran's claims for service connection remain under review.

The Board is unable to definitively determine whether the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his service, as there are conflicting opinions regarding its onset and relationship to in-service head injury. The case will be remanded for further clarification.