Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder does not preclude her from securing and following substantially gainful employment due to the impact of her prescribed medication.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a Travel Board hearing due to his homelessness and relocation issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of his schizophrenia. The case will be re-adjudicated after this additional development.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and service connection for this condition has been granted. The other issues on appeal are pending further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and depression, finding new evidence sufficient to reopen the claims. The Veteran is also granted a VA examination to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the initial rating for migraines and a higher rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder have been withdrawn. The Board has determined that he is entitled to a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to October 23, 2012. The Board denied his claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, SMC, and DEA.

The Board has remanded the case due to pending disagreements with service connection for groin injury and prostatitis, and a need for additional examination regarding acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of her acquired psychiatric disorders, including whether they are related to service or her service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD with schizophrenia, paranoid type was granted. The effective date is set at October 9, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disorder has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran before a decision was made.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate rationale in a previous VA examination report. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, will be reconsidered.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's seizure disorder and acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorder NOS and cognitive disorder NOS, are related to his service. The residuals of traumatic brain injury have not been established as a separate condition.

The Veteran's additional disabilities, including dermatitis of the hands, back pain, right leg pain, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, are not service-connected as a result of VA treatment for his total knee arthroplasty. The Board finds that there is no legal basis to consider these conditions secondary to residuals of right total knee arthroplasty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including stomach disability, skin disability, leg pain, cognitive disability (claimed as memory loss), dental disability, acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression), coronary artery disease, fatigue, deep vein thrombosis, peripheral vascular disease, and a disability characterized by shakiness are all denied.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (bipolar disorder) and denied the remaining issues of service connection. The Veteran's eczematoid dermatitis is currently rated at 10%.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The claim will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's claim is now pending for further adjudication.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and a VA examination to determine the etiology of his left ankle disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder.