Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2013

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was not incurred or aggravated in service, and thus denied his claim.

The Board found that the appellant's psychiatric disorders, primarily diagnosed as schizophrenia and major depressive disorder with psychotic features, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The preponderance of evidence is against the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, headache, and psychiatric disabilities are not service-connected as they did not have their onset in service or within one year thereafter, and there is no causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar disability was denied an increased rating prior to September 6, 2012. The psychiatric disability was also denied an increased rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and private treatment records. The VA examiner will provide an addendum to the September 2012 VA examination report and December 2012 addendum opinion.

The Veteran's stepchild, C.B., was found to be permanently incapable of self-support due to schizophrenia prior to reaching the age of 18. The claim is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a psychiatric disability.

The Veteran is not competent to manage his own financial affairs and therefore, the appeal for competency determination has been denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bipolar disorder and acquired psychiatric disability has been granted, with the effective date set at April 27, 1990.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder, claimed as right heart enlargement, was granted. However, her claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, claimed as depression secondary to the heart disorder, was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and securing releases from the Veteran to obtain these records. The claims will be readjudicated after this information is obtained.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including adjustment disorder with anxiety, paranoid schizophrenia, and psychotic bipolar disorder, has resulted in total occupational and social impairment throughout the appeal period. The claim for TDIU is moot due to the assignment of a 100 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the termination of the Veteran's TDIU was improper and restored it effective July 31, 1979.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and clarifying the Veteran's representation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, but is unable to proceed with a decision on the merits due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was denied as his claimed conditions are not of service origin.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a lack of representation and additional evidence.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, as the Veteran and his representative withdrew this claim. The remaining issues of service connection for gout, skin disorders, left knee disorder, erectile dysfunction, and high cholesterol have been denied due to lack of evidence of an underlying disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 20 percent since December 2008. The claim for an increased rating is granted.