Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2015

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for PTSD and schizophrenia, as well as his claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain medical records and to provide the Veteran with a comprehensive VA psychiatric examination. The issues of service connection for PTSD, GERD, and IBS are being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for refractive error, claimed as a vision disorder, is denied. The Board finds that there is no current evidence of an acquired eye disorder and the law prohibits service connection for refractory errors of the eyes unless such defect was subjected to a superimposed disease or injury.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new psychiatric examination to determine if he has an acquired psychiatric disorder, such as PTSD, that is related to his military service.

The Veteran was granted service connection for schizophrenia and PTSD effective September 4, 2002. His TDIU claim is also in effect as of this date.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD, is found to be incurred in service and granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, is being remanded due to conflicting diagnoses and the need for a new examination.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected and undiagnosed illness-related claims, including for various musculoskeletal issues, tinnitus, sleep disorders, gastrointestinal problems, and psychiatric conditions. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and authorize VA access to private treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as depression, is not related to his service and therefore denied his claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and to obtain outstanding VA treatment records. The issues include increased ratings for his service-connected low back and left knee disabilities, as well as service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia was originally filed in December 1983 and denied. The effective date of the grant of service connection is now set at December 7, 1983.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, GERD, and psychiatric disability other than one manifested by substance abuse due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including to afford the Veteran a VA examination with regard to his claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability and to consider whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) and a skin disorder, including as due to herbicide exposure, are denied. The Board found no evidence of chronic conditions during service or post-service medical records that support the current diagnoses.

The Veteran's claims for cancer of any extremity, bilateral knee disability, right foot disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD are denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during service or within the applicable presumptive period.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a bilateral knee disorder have been denied as the evidence does not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during his period of honorable active service from August 12, 1980 to January 14, 1990.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including service verification and obtaining complete service and personnel records. The Veteran's claims for psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and gastrointestinal disorder are being remanded to the AOJ.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying claimed stressors. A psychiatric examination and audiological evaluation are also required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric symptoms cannot be distinguished from his service-connected PTSD, and therefore, the grant of service connection for PTSD constitutes a full grant of the benefits sought. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD (including all his mental health symptoms) render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.