Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2014

The Board has granted service connection for chronic lumbar strain. The Veteran also requested service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and major depressive disorder), residuals of a bilateral mandible fracture, chondromalacia patella of the left knee, and chondromalacia patella of the right knee. These issues are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and Meniere's disease (claimed as vertigo/loss of balance). The Veteran's other claims, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a back disorder, and residuals of a ruptured appendix, are pending further development or remand.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to service, and his left hand burns are found to be secondary to a service-connected right knee disability. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending as the evidence does not establish its onset during service or relate it to any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's PTSD claim was denied, but he was granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and panic disorders). The decision is mixed as it grants one condition while denying the other.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a mental disorder is being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an opinion from the June 2012 examiner regarding whether any pre-existing mental disorder was aggravated by service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any claimed conditions and denied service connection for all issues due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a reported stressor and requests for records from the Judge Advocate General.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's schizophrenia is related to service and granted his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to consider whether service connection should be granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and clarifying whether service connection is warranted for the appellant's first period of service only.

Your claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a digestive disorder, including ulcers and hernias have been resolved to your satisfaction with the grant of service connection in January 2014. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has again remanded the Veteran's claim for further development due to incomplete records from July 2002 through July 2010 and December 2013 to the present.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for his award of TDIU was denied.,The Veteran withdrew the issue regarding whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen his claim for service connection under 38 U.S.C.A. ¶ 1151 for a cardiovascular disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development, including verification of stressors related to his service on Midway Island and additional medical examination or opinion if appropriate. The claims will be adjudicated again in light of all pertinent evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for updated examination and treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and clarifying service connection issues.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder. The claim will be readjudicated after the additional development is completed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD).

The Veteran is found incompetent to handle his VA benefits due to mental incapacity, including schizophrenia and poor medication compliance.

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