Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and a supplemental VA opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, and the TDIU claim are being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability was granted on an accrued benefits basis, with a 70% disability rating effective from April 18, 2007. The appeal is dismissed as moot due to the grant of accrued benefits.

The Veteran was rendered unable to maintain substantially gainful employment from January 16, 2001, to March 8, 2004, due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for substitution and accrued benefits purposes during this period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The Veteran's hypertension was not shown during service or within one year following separation, and is not otherwise related to service. His acquired psychiatric disorder does not meet the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is considered to be related to his active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a cervical spine disorder, finding that his schizophrenia did not manifest in service or within one year thereafter, and is not related to his active service. The cervical spine disorder was found to have preexisted service but was not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his complete service personnel records and VA treatment records. Additional medical opinions are also needed regarding the diagnoses of psychiatric disorders, vasovagal syncope, seborrheic keratosis and actinic keratosis, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a request for a Travel Board hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disabilities, including pes cavus, plantar fasciitis, and degenerative joint disease with calcaneal spurs, are rated at 30 percent from April 8, 2011 to March 12, 2014. As of March 13, 2014, the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is rated at 50 percent and his bilateral pes cavus is rated at 30 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, psychiatric disorder, neck disorder, respiratory disorder (asthma), and hepatitis C. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim for a back disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a request for a videoconference hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verifying stressors and obtaining VA treatment records. The Veteran will need to undergo a VA psychiatric examination to determine if he meets criteria for PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder, and whether such conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The claim for service connection for other conditions (osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, colon cancer, and chronic fatigue) is also denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease is rated at 60 percent effective May 22, 2014. Prior to that date, the claim for an increased rating was granted but not yet assigned a specific percentage.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of service connection and reopening claims are still pending.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. No service connection decisions were made.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine and acquired psychiatric disorders are not caused by or permanently made worse by his service-connected bilateral pes planus.