Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2016

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a 50 percent evaluation for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity within one year prior to January 7, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for a psychiatric examination to clarify the nature and likely etiology of his psychiatric disability. The claim of service connection for GERD will also be remanded pending resolution of the psychiatric disability issue.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed in-service fall did not qualify as a stressor under DSM-IV criteria, and there is no credible supporting evidence of an actual in-service stressor. As such, service connection for PTSD cannot be established.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA examinations and reviewing the claims file to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing at the Viera Outpatient Clinic in Florida, or another appropriate location. The Veteran was unable to attend his previously scheduled hearing due to heart symptoms and requested rescheduling.

The Board has reopened the claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding new and material evidence. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted as it was found that a current diagnosis of major depressive disorder was incurred during military service. Service connection for PTSD is not established.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that none of them were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding eye conditions and psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at his local RO. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizoaffective disorder, remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current headaches and psychiatric disorders are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, left foot disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, and below-the-knee amputation of the right leg to obtain additional medical evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss before May 2, 2015 and a rating higher than 40 percent since May 2, 2015.

The Veteran's lipomas were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board finds that there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the current diagnosis of heart disorder and service, nor does there appear to be any established connection with service for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to her request for a hearing. The claims will be returned to the Board after the requested hearing.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorders, was incurred during service. Service-connected sarcoidosis did not cause or aggravate his current psychiatric conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to ensure a complete record upon which to decide the issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including as secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a joint disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection as his current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate examination reports and need for clarification on service connection issues.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including posttraumatic stress and anxiety disorders, are related to his active duty service. The Board finds that these conditions were incurred in service and grants service connection for them. For gastroesophageal reflux disease, the Veteran is granted a rating but no effective date has been assigned as the claim was not fully adjudicated.