Citation Nr: 21066994
Decision Date: 11/03/21	Archive Date: 11/03/21

DOCKET NO. 20-08 208
DATE: November 3, 2021

ORDER

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is denied.

FINDING OF FACT

The Veteran's mental symptoms have been fully compensated by the Veteran's disability rating for PTSD.

CONCLUSION OF LAW

The criteria for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD have not been met.  38 U.S.C. §§ 1101, 1110, 1112, 1113; 1116; 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.303, 3.304, 3.307, 3.309, 4.14.

REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION

The Veteran service honorably in the United States Navy from January 1963 to November 1967.

These matters come to the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from a September 2018 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).  This matter is being adjudicated under the legacy appellate framework.

The Veteran testified at a personal hearing before the Board in October 2020, and a transcript of the hearing is of record.

This matter was previously before the Board, and, in January 2021, the Board remanded this matter for further development.  Further development in substantial compliance with the Board's previously remand instructions has been completed.

The Board also notes that the issue of entitlement to service connection for PTSD was also remanded in January 2021.  Following the Board's remand, the RO granted service connection for PTSD in a September 2021 rating decision.  This is considered a full grant of the Veteran's prayer of relief, and the Board shall not address this matter any further.

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is denied.

At issue is whether the Veteran is entitled to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.  The Veteran was granted service connection for PTSD in September 2017.  The process of assigning multiple disability ratings for duplicative or overlapping symptomology under various diagnoses, also known as pyramiding, is to be avoided.  38 C.F.R. § 4.14.  The Veteran underwent VA examination in September 2018 and March 2021, and neither examination suggested that the Veteran was manifesting an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD with symptomology that was distinguishable from the Veteran's diagnosis of PTSD.  Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is denied.  To the extent that the Veteran has symptoms 

 

of depression, these symptoms are contemplated by the current rating assigned for her service-connected PTSD.   

 

 

DAVID L. WIGHT

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	David R. Seaton, Counsel

The Board's decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.