Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2014

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, a sleeping disorder, an intestinal disorder, a headache disorder, fatigue, skin disorders, memory loss, bilateral knee degenerative joint disease and patellofemoral syndrome, and right ankle strain disorder. The decision was based on lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee chondromalacia, low back strain, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are related to her service. The Veteran's pre-existing psychiatric condition was aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical opinions regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to a hearing issue, and no specific rating or effective date is provided.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, left foot disorder, and left knee disorder are not related to service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service stressors or a nexus between current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected psychiatric disability. The TDIU claim will also be addressed as it is inextricably intertwined with the rating issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's paranoid schizophrenia and anxiety disorder are causally related to his active service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD due to military sexual trauma (MST), and finds that new evidence supports this claim. The Veteran now has a current diagnosis of PTSD related to MST during his period of active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address his claims of service connection for various conditions, including a pulmonary disability and an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board found no evidence to support service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Veteran's reported stressors were not verified and the medical evidence did not establish a link between any current psychiatric condition and his active duty.

The Board has determined that there was clear and unmistakable error in the May 1993 rating decision assigning a 100 percent disability rating for service-connected schizophrenia effective April 7, 1991. The earlier date of August 31, 1990 is now considered valid.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing VA examinations.

The Board has determined that additional development of the appeal is necessary and the appeal is REMANDED to the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a low back disability, left hip disability, or sleep apnea. The claims for service connection for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, dysthymic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and panic disorder), finding that there was no in-service injury or event related to these conditions, nor continuous symptoms since service.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining in-service mental health clinic records and seeking more current post service psychiatric treatment records. The claims will be re-adjudicated after these actions.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, sinusitis and sinus headaches, and Môniére's syndrome with vertigo are not directly related to his service or service-connected disabilities. However, the Board determined that these conditions were aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration records. A VA psychiatric examination is also required to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's GERD, obesity/weight gain, obstructive sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) are related to his service. The Board finds reasonable doubt in favor of these claims.

The Board has expanded the issue to include entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. Further development is needed, including a VA examination and consideration of all relevant evidence.