Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims for service connection and secondary service connection were denied across multiple conditions, including acquired psychiatric disorders, thyroidectomy residuals, kidney stones, neck disorder, muscle disorder, digestive disorder, left ankle disorder, and left foot disorder. The appeals are based on direct service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection of a respiratory disorder and an acquired psychiatric disability, and assigned a 30% rating for giardiasis with IBS. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were not.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional evidence and conduct further examinations to determine the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including whether they are related to his service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher initial ratings or a TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, a psychiatric disability, headaches, sarcoidosis with restrictive lung disease, and TDIU. The claim for an earlier effective date for nonservice-connected pension benefits was granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development related to corroborating the Veteran's reported stressors, specifically the deaths of four servicemen identified by the Veteran in an August 2004 statement as PFC Hunt, PFC Sey, PFC Grozer, and PFC Steele. The case will be readjudicated after this development.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA treatment records from Jesse Brown Medical Center. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development including obtaining service personnel records, affording a VA examination to determine the etiology of any current or recent psychiatric disability, and readjudicating the claim on a de novo basis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development regarding his claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of schizophrenia and denied service connection for this condition. The claim for an increased rating for reactive major depression was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule new VA examinations for his service-connected lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity, and right hip disabilities. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left upper extremity disorders (claimed as bilateral arm pain and numbness) secondary to the service-connected cervical strain. The Veteran's tension headaches with migraine features are also rated higher than 10 percent. However, further development is needed due to incomplete information regarding her psychiatric conditions and fibromyalgia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have an acquired psychiatric disorder during his active duty service or within one year of discharge, and there is no competent evidence to indicate that any current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service. The claim for tinnitus was denied as well.

The Veteran's brain tumor and acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD were both granted service connection, with the latter being linked to her diagnosed brain tumor.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric symptoms are related to his pre-existing personality disorder and substance abuse, which were not aggravated by service. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD was granted.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder, including depression, schizophrenia, and cognitive impairment, is rated at 70 percent since the date of separation from service.

The Veteran's appeals for shin splints and a back disability have been dismissed due to withdrawal. The Board has granted service connection for generalized anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, but denied service connection for PTSD and/or adjustment disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and a Travel Board hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, tinea cruris, a low back disorder, and bilateral hip disorder. The decisions were based on direct service connection without any presumption or secondary service connection.