Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and an inadequate examination report. The Veteran's claim for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia will be reconsidered with new evidence.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and PTSD, is found to be related to his service, specifically military sexual trauma. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, and providing an addendum to a VA examination report. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia, finding that there is insufficient evidence to link his current condition to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding the Veteran's ACDUTRA dates and whether his current psychiatric disorder is related to service, specifically his initial period of Air Force service in 1956 or a verified period of Reserve service in 1986 and 1987.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD has been reopened and granted. The VA examiner diagnosed the Veteran with PTSD related to his military service in Vietnam. Service connection is also granted for Hepatitis C, as it relates to the Veteran's right-ear piercing during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, dysthymic disorder, and PTSD, is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence related to his military discharge.

The Board found that the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, cannot be established as there is no verified stressor and his claims are based on unsupported statements.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining service treatment records and private medical records. The Board will then re-evaluate the claims based on the newly obtained evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected left femur disorder did not cause or aggravate his psychiatric disorder, to include depression and anxiety.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition is being remanded due to the need for a new medical opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed disorder.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's migraine headaches or acquired psychiatric disorder were incurred in service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's service treatment records are negative for complaints of, or treatment for, spine, left shoulder, or lung disabilities. The earliest post-service clinical evidence of possible acid reflux is more than twenty years after separation from service.,There is no competent credible evidence of record that reflects that the Veteran has a lung disability causally related to, or aggravated by, service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was not incurred in or related to service.,Bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in service and is not otherwise related to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right hand disability and finds that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding no competent, credible, and probative evidence or opinion linking the current psychiatric disability to any period of active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability was manifested by no more than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks due to symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, sleep impairment, and mild impaired memory prior to May 19, 2011. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating were not met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for acquired right eye disorder, acquired left eye disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD). The claim for increased rating for right knee disability was also denied. Effective date claims were not addressed as they are separate issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing at the VA regional office in Phoenix, Arizona. The claims of service connection for bilateral knee disability and psychiatric disability are pending.