Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include schizophrenia, is pending.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities have been granted increased ratings, and he is now eligible for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations. The issues of service connection for various disabilities remain on appeal.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim regarding his character of discharge and is now remanding it for further development. The appeal is also remanded to address the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder for treatment purposes only under Title 38, United States Code, Chapter 17.

The Board has remanded the case for a new hearing due to the Veteran's son not having authority to withdraw the request and because of his mental state, which may affect his ability to participate in the hearing.

The evidence shows that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric conditions, including PTSD and depression, have resulted in only occasional occupational and social impairment with intermittent decreases in work efficiency. The current rating of 30 percent is deemed sufficient to reflect these symptoms.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD was not incurred in service due to lack of credible supporting evidence for a claimed in-service stressor. The acquired psychiatric disorder is considered new and material as it relates to his service experience.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as schizophrenia, is related to active duty service and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression was denied as there is no credible evidence to support the claimed in-service stressors, and his current psychiatric conditions are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further consideration due to a need for additional VA examination and evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to address whether the Veteran now has epiphyseal aseptic necrosis of the tibial tubercles, which could be indicative of active Osgood-Schlatter's Disease. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and arthritis of the knees are also pending as they may be related to OSD.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's disability rating from 30 percent to 10 percent for chondromalacia of the right knee, effective October 1, 2009, was proper based on improvement in his condition as shown by VA examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder and lower extremity radiculopathy, have been granted. The Veteran served in combat and has a diagnosed PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The effective date was not changed as it is fixed based on when the claim was received or entitlement arose, whichever is later.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining records from the Veteran's current address and any ongoing VA treatment. The claim will be returned to the Board after this information has been verified.

The Veteran's appeal for a separate initial compensable disability rating for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities has been withdrawn. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and MDD, is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied. The claims for increased rating for IBS and initial rating for migraines were granted, with the highest available ratings of 30 percent each.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection and compensation for his psychiatric disability is denied.