Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2013

The Board found that a chronic back disability was not incurred or aggravated as a result of active service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated at zero percent, and tinnitus has been granted. However, the acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as dyssomnia) was not found to be related to service.,Service connection for tinnitus was established based on a finding that it is proximately due to the service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and service treatment records from the Veteran's period of USAR service. The Veteran is also scheduled for a VA audiological examination to determine the etiology of his right ear hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disabilities, and a VA psychiatric examination to determine the likely etiology of any current acquired psychiatric disorder(s).

The Board has expanded the claim to include all psychiatric disabilities and is remanding for further development, including obtaining additional stressor verification, VA mental health treatment records, and SSA disability decision records.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and psychiatric disability, including PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, and is remanding the PTSD claim for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA records and affording the Veteran a VA examination to determine if he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected paranoid schizophrenia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder and paranoid schizophrenia, cannot be reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The rating for his low back disability remains denied as there is no evidence showing a higher rating is warranted based on current symptoms. Additionally, the TDIU claim has also been denied.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disability to his military service and denied his claim.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have PTSD and there is no evidence establishing a link between any psychiatric disorder and his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, has been denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's PTSD is related to in-service personal assault and harassment, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of multiple joints, including the neck and ribs, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder). The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been denied.,The Veteran is found unemployable as a result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address issues of service connection and severance of service connection. The Veteran's claims are currently pending.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The VA examinations are needed to determine the etiology of his right knee disorder, left knee disorder, hypertension, headaches, and all diagnosed psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and a hearing, but did not make a final decision on whether service connection should be granted.

The Board found no evidence of a psychiatric disorder in service or within one year post-service, and the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran does not have a present disability of PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, and the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that his anxiety disorder is related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral tinea pedis and left ear hearing loss disability. The acquired psychiatric disorder, hearing loss disability, and headache disorder claims are remanded due to additional development being required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for residuals of a back injury and psychiatric disability to allow for further development and readjudication. The claims will be considered together as they are inextricably intertwined.