Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2016

The Board found no current neuropsychiatric disability and concluded that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD or a sleep disorder.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn prior to the issuance of a final decision.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, fibrocystic breast disease, and has denied service connection for chronic headaches, low back disability, right hip disability, right knee disability, and neuropathy of the right foot.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus, sarcoidosis, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and MDD), glaucoma, and chronic sinusitis are all service-connected based on direct evidence of their onset during military service.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for paranoid schizophrenia with a mood disorder prior to February 24, 2012 was granted. The TDIU claim is still pending.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, skin disorder, and back disorder. The evidence now supports these claims as they are related to the Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is August 15, 2008.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and to reopen his claim for a nervous disorder, including schizophrenia. The decision found no evidence of an in-service stressor leading to PTSD and concluded that any current psychiatric disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives and the need for further examination.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic disease in service or within one year following service, and the Veteran's lay testimony regarding his onset of psychiatric disorder was not credible. The Board also found that there is no probative evidence linking any current left knee condition or frostbite residuals to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for left and right knee disorders, as well as his acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether these conditions are related to service.

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

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for meningitis and an acquired psychiatric disorder, thus denying these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination and medical opinion. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder of the feet and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, as well as his claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric disorder is related to his service or service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a third hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities due to recent testimony indicating current symptoms, but further examination is needed to assess their severity.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule VA examinations for his claimed acquired psychiatric disability, heart disability, and left knee disability. The Board will then review the case again based on the examination results.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn. The Board does not have jurisdiction to consider the increased rating claim for hypertension with headaches as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in November 2015.