Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability has been granted, with the assigned rating of 20 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, headaches, and a psychiatric disability (depression). The evidence does not support these claims as his current conditions are not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, including schizophrenia, dysthymia, major depression with psychotic features, and schizoid personality disorder, are related to his service. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled Board hearing. The case will be rescheduled for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge sitting at the RO.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new examination to address the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The examiner will need to determine if any pre-existing conditions existed prior to service or were aggravated during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable, effective from August 7, 2000.

The Board has found no competent evidence of a current psychiatric disability, specifically paranoid schizophrenia. The Veteran's claim for service connection is denied.

The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for hypertension or a psychiatric disorder.

The Board has recharacterized the issues to reflect the scope of the Veteran's claims, finding that service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a digestive system disorder remains pending and will be addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a Joint Motion for Partial Remand, including obtaining an updated VA examination and addressing the bases of the motion.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to verify specific PTSD stressors and other aspects of the Veteran's service history.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, left knee disability, and psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical records and VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to verify specific PTSD stressors and other aspects of the Veteran's service history.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, depression and PTSD, has been denied as there is no valid diagnosis of PTSD that could be associated with a corroborated stressor event. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection due to lack of continuity of symptoms and absence of medical nexus.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a new VA psychiatric examination.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, due to his service and denied the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is denied as the evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection. The hearing loss claim remains denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeals for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and tinnitus. As such, the Board dismisses these issues.

The Board has ordered additional development due to incomplete records from the Veteran's post-service employer, The Philadelphia Gas Company. This includes obtaining triennial physical examination records that may be relevant to determining the etiology of hypertension and any diagnosed psychiatric disability.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, lumbar strain, and cervical strain. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his bilateral knee disabilities and TDIU are also addressed.