Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are being remanded due to issues not related to service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100% disability rating for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that it was not factually ascertainable that an increase in disability occurred within one year prior to the date of receipt of his increased rating claim.

The Veteran's hypertension was not diagnosed during service or within one year of discharge, and there is no competent evidence relating it to service. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder are at least as likely as not related to service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding records and providing an adequate VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including retrieval of VA outpatient records and consideration of the March 2013 VA examination report.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and supplemental statements of the case do not comply with the April 2012 remand directives. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include schizophrenia and PTSD, must be remanded for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders other than PTSD did not manifest in service or for many years thereafter, and any such conditions are unrelated to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to several issues, including obtaining missing SSA award letter and records of treatment by Dr. Owings.

The appellant does not have recognized Federal service and therefore does not meet the requirements of basic eligibility for VA benefits. As a result, his claims are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service mental health records and VA treatment records. The psychiatric disorder claim will be decided based on the merits of the evidence presented, while the initial rating claim for traumatic brain injury residuals requires a new examination as there may have been a material change in condition since the last examination.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for an acquired psychiatric disability or a back disability due to lack of evidence showing such conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's request for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder, has been remanded due to her failure to attend the scheduled hearing and her request for a videoconference hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining verification of stressors and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected psychiatric disorder and headache disorder, as well as any residual TBI symptoms. The TDIU claim will also be remanded due to its inextricability from these issues.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board has remanded the case for additional development and examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, arthritis, a bilateral foot disability, and peripheral neuropathy. The appeals are based on direct evidence of these conditions without any presumption or secondary relationship to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia and granted it. The Veteran was diagnosed with chronic schizophrenia, paranoid type during his military service.