Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of any currently-diagnosed psychiatric disorder. The appellant's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder will be adjudicated again based on the additional evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of reopening his service connection for a lumbar spine disability and has determined that it is at least as likely as not that his current lumbar spine disability was incurred in active military service. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hemorrhagic fever, finding that new and material evidence had not been received sufficient to reopen the claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to outstanding VA treatment records and verification of claimed stressors.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's schizophrenia pre-existed service and was aggravated by service. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of COPD or an acquired psychiatric disorder, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims for service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, but new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim for service connection for a neck/cervical spine disability. The Veteran's current neck disabilities are at least as likely as not related to an injury during his 1996 period of active duty for training.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including MDD, PTSD, and panic disorder, is found to be related to his military service. His coronary artery disease and hypertension are also found to be related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability in most cases, with the exception of chronic rhinosinusitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a left knee disorder related to his military service and does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD or an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD. The Veteran's anxiety disorder is found to be etiologically related to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability, which is now granted. The Veteran's current psychiatric disability, diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenia, is etiologically related to his active service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for scars of the penis and scrotum. The new evidence received is sufficient to reopen this claim, but further development is needed to determine if there was a groin injury during service and whether it caused any current disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression), but denied the claim on the merits. The cervical spine disorder claim was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis was not reopened. The left foot Lisfranc sprain is rated at 10 percent, and the lumbar strain remains at 20 percent. No new rating has been granted for right or acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disorder and denied service connection for PTSD. For bilateral hearing loss, while the Veteran contends his hearing issues are related to noise exposure in Vietnam, there is no evidence of any hearing problems during service or within one year post-service, and he did not seek treatment until after separation. As such, service connection was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being REMANDED to the AOJ for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the local VA office. The Veteran has requested a Board videoconference hearing, but his request was received prior to any Board consideration of his appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran has PTSD and whether service connection is warranted. The issue of atrial fibrillation will be addressed by issuing a SOC.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with schizophrenia, undifferentiated type, has resulted in occupational and social impairment but not to the extent that would warrant a higher rating. The evidence does not show total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia and psychosis, finding that these conditions are related to active duty service.