Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Appellant does not meet the criteria to be considered a veteran for the purpose of receiving VA disability benefits due to lack of active duty or ACDUTRA service. Therefore, his claim for an acquired psychiatric disability cannot be granted.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder and his intellectual/learning disability is not considered a disability for VA purposes. The Veteran underwent transurethral resection of a bladder tumor during service, and by extending the benefit of the doubt to the Veteran, the criteria for service connection for residuals of bladder tumor resection have been met.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence received after a July 2015 supplemental statement of the case. The issues include service connection for low back disability, acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD and depression, left ankle disability, and TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, right foot, and left shoulder disabilities. The gastrointestinal disability was not found to be incurred in or due to his active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), based on credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor. Service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder manifested by chest pain is denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral corneal abrasion, a left hand disorder, sinusitis, and gingivitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have osteoarthritis of the bilateral knees, hands, and shoulders. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending as there is insufficient evidence to determine whether it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case for issuance of a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) to address additional evidence received after the previous Statements of the Case. The issues include service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, higher ratings for degenerative disc disease and radiculopathy, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder and psychiatric disorders (including PTSD, depression, and adjustment disorder) was denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that caused the current conditions. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a diagnosis of PTSD linked to any corroborated in-service stressor and other diagnosed psychiatric disorders are not shown to have had an onset during service or be related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of a right ankle sprain, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no current diagnosis or etiological link to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and examination to address his skin disorder of the bilateral feet and acquired psychiatric disorders, including anxiety. The Board will also seek an addendum opinion regarding whether any pre-existing acquired psychiatric disorders were aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from Kings Park Psychiatric Center and Little Flower Children's Home. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a right leg disability, to include arthritis of the knee and ankle, as it was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claim is remanded due to the need for additional development regarding other issues.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a supplemental medical opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and secondary service connection claim.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA medical records and scheduling a new VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his active service, and therefore grants service connection for hepatitis C. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of April 4, 2001 for a 100% rating for service-connected schizophrenia.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, translating any identified documents, scheduling a VA audiological examination, and readjudicating the claim for increased evaluation of his bilateral hearing loss.