Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for further adjudication due to inadequate explanation of why a medical nexus examination was not necessary, and for obtaining an opinion on whether the Veteran's psychiatric condition is caused or aggravated by his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a neck injury or psychiatric disorder during service and denied the Veteran's claims for residuals of neck injury and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any current neck disability, skin disability, residuals of head trauma, and acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's current tinnitus is likely related to active military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining the Veteran's personnel records and Army Reserve records. The Veteran will also undergo a VA psychiatric examination to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, low back disorder, and rheumatoid arthritis. The Veteran also had his request to reopen previously denied claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the shoulders, knees, feet, elbows, hands, and neck denied.

The Veteran's chronic headaches are related to his active service and the claim for service connection is granted. The issue of entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities remains pending.

The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for any of the claimed conditions, including alcoholism. The Veteran's available post-service records do not support his claims.