Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2015

The Board found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed psychiatric disorder did not have its onset during service and is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and secondary service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding her psychiatric disability, throat swelling/earaches, painful gums and teeth, and IBS. The rating for IBS is also being remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD is denied as there was no credible evidence supporting his claim, including a lack of in-service hallucinations or symptoms related to such condition.

The Board has remanded the case for clarification of the VA opinion and any other necessary development regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including a diagnosis and whether it is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claims for service connection for schizoaffective disorder, depressive type and PTSD. The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's schizophrenia has been rated at 70 percent disabling, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for residuals of a left thumb fracture, left hand and ring finger pain, heart murmur, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), bilateral knee disorder, bronchitis, and low back disorder has been denied as there is no current disability. The VA examiner found no evidence of abnormality of the left thumb.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a scar of the right lower leg is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran incurred a scar during active duty and it is related to his in-service injury.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and finds that her current diagnoses of PTSD and depression are related to her military service, granting her claim.

The Board is requesting additional information from SSA regarding the Veteran's receipt of disability benefits, as this may affect the reopening and service connection claims.

The Board has decided the appeal is not ready for final decision and has ordered a remand to provide the Veteran with a hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and private treatment records from C. Phillips, as well as a new VA examination to address his psychiatric disorder claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a psychiatric examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected mechanical low back pain, right wrist sprain, left wrist injury residuals, and postoperative residuals of a fracture of the left ankle are all rated at 10 percent. The Veteran is granted increased ratings to 20 percent for his mechanical low back pain from July 31, 2014.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of left shoulder disability and granted it, finding that his current condition is related to his active service. The issue of secondary psychiatric disability due to left shoulder disability was not decided as there were insufficient medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral eye disorder, cervical spine disorder (secondary to service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine), right knee disorder (secondary to service-connected left knee scar), and acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found no direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a diagnosed PTSD or an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include insomnia, due to service. The preponderance of evidence showed these conditions manifested years after service and were not related to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient discussion of medical opinions and potential risk factors for hepatitis C, including intranasal cocaine use. The case is also inextricably intertwined with his claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and attempting to verify stressors. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after this development.

The Veteran's headaches are not related to his military service, but new evidence has been submitted that may support a claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is remanded for further development.