Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2015

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective date, increased evaluation for bilateral eye disability, and initial evaluations in excess of 30 percent and 50 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder. The conditions are evaluated as direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and service personnel records. The Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for PTSD, which is considered a direct service connection as no presumption or secondary condition was established. The other conditions are still under consideration.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and determining the etiology of his psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD, finding that the evidence did not establish a current disability or link to service.

The Board has determined that service connection is granted for acquired psychiatric disorders, including substance induced mood disorder and substance induced psychotic disorder. The Veteran's alcohol use during service is considered secondary to her pre-existing condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, TMJ, and other conditions are being considered. The Board has found the evidence to be in equipoise on whether these disorders were incurred during service.,Service connection is granted for a lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and migraines.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection, and TDIU have been granted. The claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder has been reopened and is now pending on the merits.

The Board has denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is considered secondary to his left knee injury residuals, while the psychiatric disability is linked to his current anxiety disorder and depressive disorder.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision. The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder) as it is proximately due to her service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, fibromyalgia with chronic fatigue symptoms. Service connection was also granted for fibromyalgia with chronic fatigue symptoms.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for multiple sclerosis and erectile dysfunction, but dismissed his claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, urinary complications, and an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as depression or anxiety).

The Veteran's undifferentiated schizophrenia is currently rated at 50 percent prior to March 26, 2013 and at 70 percent from that date. The Board found the evidence did not meet criteria for a higher rating in either period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to conduct further research and verification of his claimed inservice stressors, including combat participation. The Board will then determine if service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, can be established.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his head injury and PTSD claims, as well as the need to issue a Statement of the Case on the issue of reopening his psychiatric disability claim.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis and PTSD, but denied all other issues on appeal.,A new rating decision is needed to assign a disability rating for keratosis punctata of the bilateral hands.

The Board has granted service connection for pseudo folliculitis barbae and an acquired psychiatric disability, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and a psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions on secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and mood disorders is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the other issue on appeal.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus and vertigo, and peripheral neuropathy are not service-connected.,The Veteran's disability manifested by tinnitus and vertigo, and his peripheral neuropathy were caused by medical treatment furnished by the VA but were reasonably foreseeable and were not the result of carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on the part of the Department. Therefore, service connection is denied.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was not related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete records and need for additional opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD.