Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of her bilateral pes planus, gastrointestinal disability, hearing loss, tinnitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The issues on appeal include service connection claims for these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there is no competent evidence linking his current condition to his active service or time in the reserves. The issue of whether new and material evidence exists to re-open the claim for tinnitus remains pending.

The Veteran's service connection claims for tinnitus, hypertension, and a psychiatric disorder to include PTSD are granted. The initial compensable rating of 10 percent for tinea pedis and onychomycosis is also granted.

The Veteran's current upper, middle and lower back disabilities are found to be related to injuries sustained during service.

The Veteran's right inguinal hernia and abdominal scars are not rated higher than noncompensable.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have a psychiatric disability during service or currently, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an eating disorder, to include anorexia; her eating difficulties are attributed to her service-connected fibromyalgia and depression. The Board finds that she does not meet the criteria for separate service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and depression.

The Board has ordered additional development to verify the Veteran's reported stressors, specifically drownings that occurred in April 2000 at Fort Hood. The case is now remanded for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and a back disorder, finding that there was no evidence of such disorders being related to his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder, including GERD and chronic gastritis, is related to his service. The acquired psychiatric disorder is not related to his service-connected disabilities or service.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination and requested additional service personnel records to determine if the Veteran's PTSD is related to his military service. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's condition, including his service-connected anxiety disorder and vascular dementia, necessitates regular aid and attendance. The Board has granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not competent to handle his VA funds due to his mental health conditions, specifically schizophrenia.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims, including a review of his service connection claims and TDIU issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, was incurred during service and is granted as service connection.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with a seizure disorder, cervical spine disorder, left eye disorder, and psychiatric disorder. However, there is no evidence of such conditions during service or that they are related to service.,VA examinations were not provided for the issues of tinnitus and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and missing medical records.

The Veteran seeks service connection for paranoid schizophrenia, which he claims was aggravated by his military service. The Board is remanding the case to obtain a VA opinion on whether it can be concluded as medically undebatable that the preexisting psychiatric disorder was not permanently aggravated in service beyond natural progression.

The Board has determined that further development is required before the claim may be finally adjudicated, including obtaining a VA examination to address the outstanding questions pertaining to the pending claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability on a secondary basis must be remanded. The case also requires a VA examination to assess the severity of his residuals of a TBI and whether he can maintain gainful employment due to his service-connected disability.