Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2013

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD, are found to be related to his military service. The claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and thus, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's motion to restore service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, latent type, due to clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in their April 1980 decision. The evidence did not show an acquired psychiatric disease during or within one year following separation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including depressive disorder and mood disorder, are not related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is not related to his service and denied his claim.

Effective May 30, 2013, the Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected psychiatric disability and therefore granted TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in previous medical opinions and a need for further clarification regarding service connection for PTSD and depression.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated medical records and for a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected paranoid schizophrenia. The TDIU issue is also inextricably intertwined with the rating claim.

The Veteran's schizophrenia has been manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, especially judgment and thinking, due to symptoms such as speech intermittently illogical, poor insight and judgment, tangential and illogical thinking, grossly inappropriate behavior, and memory loss for a close relative. For the entire appeal period, his condition warrants a 70 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant treatment records and affording the Veteran a reasonable opportunity to respond.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current psychiatric disorders, including schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, were incurred during his period of service from December 31, 1973 to February 27, 1974.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by her active duty service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred due to a disease or injury during service. The claim for service connection was therefore denied.

The Board found insufficient evidence of a chronic psychiatric disorder during service or within one year after service, and the Veteran's lay assertions regarding in-service and post-service psychiatric symptomatology were not credible. The Board concluded that the current psychiatric disability is not related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and readjudication due to issues being intertwined, including a psychiatric disorder claim that was not previously adjudicated. The Veteran's heart disorder, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type II are all potentially related to his PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disorders and psychiatric disorders are not due to disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by his active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and is granting the Veteran's claim. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression and PTSD, remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from Dr. Robin 'Margaret' Lett.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the Veteran's left bunionectomy residuals, finding that they are severe. The claimant's acquired psychiatric disorder is also service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of issues related to a higher rating for ventral hernia, service connection for knee disabilities, and service connection for PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions were not related to her military service or events therein, and denied all claims.