Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the appeal can be decided, including obtaining additional medical records and verifying stressors. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to allow for these steps.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the weight of the competent evidence of record is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran has tinnitus as a result of his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a Board videoconference hearing. The issues of service connection for various conditions remain unresolved.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened and granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a right ear hearing loss disability aggravated by active service, and his current left ear hearing loss is related to this aggravation. Service connection for depression was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule him for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities, including physical and mental health issues. The appeals for service connection are not addressed as they were not part of the original claim.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and atypical psychosis, which had its onset within a year of the Veteran's discharge from service.

The Board has remanded the claims for Hepatitis C, schizophrenia (application to reopen), and PTSD. The Veteran is scheduled for a hearing at the RO.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete development and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and examination to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including as due to herbicide exposure in Okinawa, is service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than bipolar disorder, depression and schizoaffective disorder, to include PTSD was denied as there is no credible evidence of a stressor related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and providing supplemental opinions from VA examiners.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, migraines, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have all been denied. The Board found no current evidence of residuals from the in-service TBI or migraines, and concluded that there was insufficient medical nexus to support service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his diagnoses and stressors.

The Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder and paranoid schizophrenia have rendered him incompetent to handle disbursement of VA funds.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right femur disability, left femur disability, and right knee disability. The psychiatric disability other than a major depressive disorder remains on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and potential spoliation of evidence. The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability and right leg disability will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be as likely as not related to his active service, including in-service noise exposure. The other issues are addressed but the decision summary does not specify outcomes for gout, eye disability, diabetes mellitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including as residuals of head injury or secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The decision concluded that there is not clear and unmistakable evidence that the disabilities pre-existed service, and they are not otherwise related to service.