Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2015

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is not related to his active duty service and may not be presumed as an organic disease of the nervous system. The evidence does not show left ear hearing loss for VA purposes.

The case is being remanded for additional development to obtain updated medical records, service personnel records, and a VA examination. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed again after the additional evidence is obtained.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a headache disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has current headaches and major depressive disorder, which are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the evidence is sufficient to warrant the grant of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, as secondary to service-connected tinnitus. The Veteran's psychiatric disorders are found to be caused by his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board granted service connection for paranoid schizophrenia with an effective date of March 20, 2001. The Veteran's claim was reopened in March 2001 after he submitted new evidence.

The Veteran's request for a Board hearing via videoconference was granted, and the case is now remanded to schedule an appropriate hearing in Syracuse, New York or another location closer to his residence than Buffalo, New York.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of records.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and her symptoms do not meet the criteria for PTSD. The VA psychologists concluded she did not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD under DSM-IV and DSM-V, thus denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, psychotic disorder NOS, and bipolar disorder NOS, had their onset during military service and are otherwise etiologically related to his military service. After applying the benefit of doubt, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining additional treatment records. The Veteran's claim will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.

The Veteran's claim for SMC at the housebound rate or based on aid and attendance is being remanded due to a need for further examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a disability of the bilateral legs, and a disability of the lower back. The new evidence received since July 1967 is sufficient to reopen these claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including paranoid schizophrenia with dementia. The evidence received since the December 2009 decision shows that the Veteran had a history of a nervous condition at his November 1966 annual examination, which may indicate pre-existing psychiatric issues prior to active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further examination and authorization of records from a private provider. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is being evaluated in relation to his service-connected asthma.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical opinions and failure to provide an updated opinion. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is now before the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have originated during his active service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The low back disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, and hepatitis C claims are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disabilities, finding that there was no evidence to support the occurrence of a verified stressor related to military sexual assault. The diagnoses were not linked to service.

The Board is unable to determine the status of the Veteran's claims for service connection and secondary service connection due to insufficient information. The claim for a compensable disability rating for peptic ulcer disease remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining updated medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to address his service connection claims.