Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claims of service connection for variously diagnosed psychiatric disabilities, low back disability, hypertension and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The case is inextricably intertwined with the reopening of a claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability.

The appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and any private records. A VA examination will be scheduled to address the Veteran's functional impairment caused by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's medical records, particularly from VAMC St. Louis and VAMC Dallas, to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorder had its onset in service or is otherwise related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD due to alleged in-service sexual assaults and her claim for service connection was denied.

The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric disorder began during military service or is otherwise related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining pertinent medical records and addressing the issue of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is related to his military service, granting service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a VA opinion addressing whether his service-connected conditions aggravated his psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and the issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding his TDIU claim. The psychiatric disorder issue will also be addressed with a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records related to the Veteran's psychiatric disorder. The claim will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these claims. The issues of left leg radiculopathy secondary to back disorder, hypertension, vitiligo, kidney condition, hyperthyroidism (hypercholesterolemia), cervical spine disability, bilateral ankle condition, bilateral knee condition, stomach condition, tinnitus, and service connection on the merits were also addressed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, acid reflux, diabetes mellitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a cervical spine disability prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, has been granted. The Board also notes that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II claim was withdrawn prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, migraine headaches, and psychiatric disability were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his migraine headaches.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including schizophrenia and PTSD, did not begin during service or are otherwise related to service. The genitourinary disability claim is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and PTSD have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service or in-service stressors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, finding that no formal or informal claim was received prior to April 28, 1999. The earliest claim came on March 16, 2000, and there is no evidence of a worsening in condition before this date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current low back disability, right thumb disability, or psychiatric disability for which service connection can be granted. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The claim is granted.