Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and extent of any psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claims for psychiatric and stomach disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying his claimed stressors. He is also seeking an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right shoulder disorder, back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, allergies, heart disorder, acne, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease that would support these claims.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus had onset during active service and has continued since then, granting service connection for this condition. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, hallux valgus deformity of the left foot, right foot disability, bilateral glaucoma, asthma, and erectile dysfunction are not related to service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, scheduling the Veteran for a psychiatric examination, and providing him with an opportunity to respond.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and updating the family income calculation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The VA examiner found that the current back disorders are not related to service, while the claim for PTSD was also denied due to lack of credible supporting evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disability was denied. The ratings for lumbar spine DDD were not granted in excess of the assigned 10 percent prior to January 16, 2014 and 40 percent from that date. A compensable rating for residuals of right clavicle fracture and bilateral hearing loss was also denied. Prior to January 16, 2014, a TDIU rating was not granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his permanent and total disability status based on TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to inadequate notice of VA examinations scheduled in connection with his service-connected schizophrenia and cervical spine disabilities.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disorders other than service-connected anxiety disorder with panic disorder and agoraphobia. The Veteran's representative requested that the VA examiner review the claims file and provide answers to the questions as cited in the July 2015 Board remand.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for schizophrenia, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The case is now remanded for a VA examination to determine the likely etiology of the Veteran's schizophrenia.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, did not meet the DSM criteria for a diagnosis and was less likely than not caused by his military service. The peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities also did not manifest within one year of herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address issues related to service connection, including a VA examination and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disability, including depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), was not incurred in or aggravated by service.,The Veteran's headaches were also not linked to his military service. The examiner noted that the onset of his headache symptoms occurred after a 1992 work injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as Organic Brain Syndrome, was aggravated by service and is therefore entitled to service connection.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder, bilateral foot disorder, and tinnitus. Service connection was also denied for a low back disorder and headaches (claimed as residuals of a broken nose).