Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and failure to obtain relevant Social Security Administration (SSA) disability determination records.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the award of service connection for a psychiatric condition should be August 22, 1972.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for scoliosis of the thoracic spine and granted it. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is remanded for further development.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against finding that the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disability related to service, and thus his claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include schizophrenia, is not shown to have been present in service or within one year of separation. The Board finds the weight of the evidence against a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, PCT, migraine headaches, GERD, and fatty liver have been granted.

The Board found that the Appellant did not suffer from a traumatic head injury during his INACDUTRA period, and therefore he is not considered a 'Veteran' for purposes of this claim. As such, service connection cannot be established.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is not service-connected due to a lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or disease. The claims for acquired psychiatric disability and bilateral hearing loss are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and readjudication.

The Board is remanding the case for scheduling a personal hearing before the RO, as the Veteran requested one but has not been provided with an opportunity to do so.

The Veteran seeks service connection for Scheuermann's disease and a psychiatric disorder. The Board has remanded the case to afford the Veteran a hearing, with reasonable attempts to accommodate his incarcerated status.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, and for nonservice-connected pension benefits prior to March 1, 2011. The record did not establish a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder during the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and mental health treatment records. The VA will also request an addendum opinion on the issue of bilateral hearing loss.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records from Dr. Robert Myers and attempting to locate any other relevant records.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for hepatitis C and bilateral hearing loss during the June 2010 Board hearing. The claims of service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Veteran's current diagnoses of psychosis NOS and schizophrenia have been established as having manifested within one year of his separation from service and to a compensable degree.

The Veteran's service connection for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder is granted, and he is awarded a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The Board found that the Veteran engaged in combat with the enemy during service, has a current diagnosis of PTSD, and there is a medical nexus between the claimed stressors and the current PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's paranoid schizophrenia is etiologically related to a period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) in Germany, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further examination and development of records, as well as additional psychiatric testing. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on his knee disabilities and service connection for a psychiatric disorder are pending.