Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that further development of the Veteran's claims is warranted due to a lack of VA etiology examinations for her claimed psychiatric disorder and right shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an opinion regarding hepatitis.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, has been dismissed due to her failure to provide necessary releases for VA to secure pertinent evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure.,Service connection was also granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder including adjustment disorder, but the Board found this condition is not due to disease or injury incurred during active service.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and thus service connection for this condition cannot be granted.

The Board has deferred the decision on the pending claims until the claim for service connection for a low back disability is finally adjudicated. Additional evidence submitted since April 2009 will be considered.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder that is related to service or a service-connected disability. His pseudofolliculitis barbae has been rated as noncompensable under the criteria for dermatophytosis.,The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae, which was evaluated under Diagnostic Code 7813, does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.