Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case for development and readjudication due to new evidence from a private provider and because the TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with the rating claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to verify in-service stressors and determine the presence of any acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service connected disorders will also be addressed.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including obtaining records from SSA and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional information and evidence, including VA treatment records, personnel records, and stressor verifications. A psychiatric examination will be conducted to determine the presence of PTSD and any current acquired psychiatric disorders. An appropriate VA audiological examination will also be scheduled to assess the etiology of his hearing loss. If hepatitis is confirmed, a VA examination will be arranged to evaluate its relationship with service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records, as well as consideration of whether a social and industrial field survey is necessary.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased rating, and reopening of a head injury claim are being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right groin strain was withdrawn.,The issue of entitlement to service connection for a headache disorder remains open on appeal, as the July 1988 rating decision denying such is not final.,Diabetes mellitus was incurred in active service and is service-connected.,Asthma was not incurred or aggravated by active service.,TMJ dysfunction was not incurred or aggravated by active service.,The right shoulder disorder was not incurred or aggravated by active service, nor may the incurrence of arthritis during such service be presumed.,Erectile dysfunction is proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability (diabetes mellitus).,PTSD and major depressive disorder were incurred in active service and are service-connected.,Dry throat was not caused by active service, as there is no underlying diagnosed disorder residual to tonsillectomy.,A bilateral elbow disorder was not incurred or aggravated by active service.,A rib joint disorder was not incurred or aggravated by active service.,The torn right latissimus dorsi muscle was not incurred or aggravated by active service.,Arthritis of the hands was not incurred or aggravated by active service, and the incurrence or aggravation of arthritis during such service may not be presumed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a neurological disorder and a psychiatric disorder were denied. The claims for initial compensable evaluations for residuals of right and left fifth toe arthroplasty were also denied.

The Veteran seeks service connection for head injury residuals and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression and PTSD. The Board has determined that additional records are needed to fully evaluate the claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and denied all of his claims.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, which includes PTSD, bipolar disorder, and anxiety attacks, is rated at 50 percent. The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disability (bipolar disorder), bilateral hearing loss, and leukemia were all granted. The claim for a higher initial rating for tinnitus was denied as the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent has been assigned.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge of the Board.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his current acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and an acquired psychiatric disability, including generalized anxiety disorder (anxiety disability). The decision found that there was no evidence to support a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and for a higher rating for the left knee disability. The effective date of the increased rating to 30 percent for the left knee disability was not addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected tinea versicolor has been found to be the primary cause of his acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression. His right wrist fracture is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board found no evidence of a current psychiatric disorder during service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to obtain records from Dr. McClain, and the Veteran's psychiatric disorder including PTSD is being returned for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, including paranoid type schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, and panic attacks, had their onset in service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.