Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder and its relationship to service. Further development is needed, including a VA examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for hepatitis B under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, finding that his hepatitis B was caused by carelessness or negligence on VA's part in March 2005. The psychiatric disorder secondary to hepatitis B is still pending and will be addressed during a future remand.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and chronic gastrointestinal disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his claimed stressors and potential verification of his service aboard USS DUBUQUE in May 1975.

The Board has denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen her claims for service connection for schizoaffective disorder and bilateral knee disorder as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is granted as service-connected. The left hip disorder is also granted as service-connected, but the issue of secondary service connection to a service-connected disability remains unresolved.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have onset in service and is therefore granted service connection. The Board also granted the Veteran's claims for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and residual scarring associated with a history of collapsed left lung.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, but denied the underlying claim as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his left thumb disability and any acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for schizophrenia is dismissed as a matter of law.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychological disorder, specifically paranoid schizophrenia. The Veteran's testimony at his hearing and medical opinions support a finding that his current psychiatric condition may be related to events during his military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, is found to be related to his service. Service connection for hypertension is granted as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim. The Board also found that residuals of a traumatic brain injury were not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of the claimed disabilities, including fatigue, edema, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a bilateral hip disorder, and a chronic metabolic disorder. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back and right side disability, as well as for a psychiatric disorder. These claims are being returned to VA for further development.

The Board found the Veteran not competent to handle direct disbursement of his funds for VA purposes due to periods of paranoia and problems with reality testing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including Major Depressive Disorder) secondary to Tourette's syndrome and for Tourette's Syndrome are addressed in the remand following this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of her claimed conditions and scheduling a VA examination to assess her acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to determine the likelihood of service connection for his claimed conditions and whether any current acquired psychiatric disorder or orthopedic disorders are related to a personal assault incurred in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability, with the exception of alcohol abuse for the psychiatric claim. For the hearing loss claim, there was no objective evidence showing it met VA compensation criteria.