Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims for service connection and NSC pension benefits are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including SSA records and private treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current tinnitus disability and finds no credible evidence linking his current psychiatric disabilities to service, including any potential link to diabetes. As such, both claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he has been able to secure and follow substantially gainful employment despite his psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorders.

The Board found no evidence of an acquired psychiatric disorder or hearing loss in service, and the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine if his current mental health conditions are related to service and whether any pre-existing conditions were aggravated by service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and possibly arranging a VA medical examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated clinical records and arranging for medical examinations to determine the nature and likely etiology of his low back disability and psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran wishes to withdraw his appeal regarding high blood pressure. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and GERD have been reopened, but the effective date claim remains on appeal as the Veteran did not provide a valid reason for withdrawing it. Service connection for bilateral glaucoma is granted with an effective date of March 30, 2009.

The Board determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is unrelated to service. The acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) has also been found not related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, concluding that it was not incurred or aggravated during active duty and did not manifest within one year of separation. The Board also found no evidence of pre-existing conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease. The Veteran's other claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate prior examination and need for further review of the Veteran's claims file.

The Veteran's appeal is granted, with a rating of 60 percent for prostatitis effective February 20, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a left shoulder disorder due to inadequate examinations, incomplete records, and unclear rationale in previous decisions.

The Board has found that the VA examinations provided were inadequate and requires another examination to address whether the Veteran's current psychiatric disability is related to his service, specifically his training incident during basic training.

The case is being remanded to the AOJ for additional development, including referral of the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The matter of his basic eligibility for VA educational assistance under Chapter 33 will then be readjudicated based on all evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have an asthma disability at any point during the period on appeal and therefore denied his claim for service connection for asthma. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD or schizoaffective disorder, is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine if his acquired psychiatric disability is related to his service-connected ear conditions.