Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding VA treatment records and possible SSA records.

The Board found no evidence of a current PTSD disability and concluded that any acquired psychiatric disorder is not related to service.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional evidence and determine whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim for service connection for a mental disorder, including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizoaffective disorder bipolar type, and mood disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, which is now considered to be substantiated by new and material evidence.

The Board found insufficient evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and mood disorder NOS. The examiner opined that her current conditions are more likely related to post-service life events rather than in-service incidents.

The Veteran's CVAs and psychiatric disorders were not shown to be related to his military service or a service-connected disability, leading to the denial of these claims.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including erectile dysfunction secondary to a psychiatric disability and tinea pedis, have been granted. The initial rating assigned is 30 percent for dyssomnia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, as evidenced by in-service noise exposure. The skin disability is not currently diagnosed, but may be due to service. The acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is also not currently diagnosed, though it is suggested based on the Veteran's reported experiences.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is not related to military service and denies his claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding his claimed in-service head injuries. The VA will seek verification of these incidents from official sources.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an effective date prior to April 26, 2010, for recognition as a helpless child of the Veteran for dependency and indemnity compensation benefits. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, psychosis, major depressive disorder, adjustment disorder, schizoaffective disorder, borderline personality disorder, dysthymic disorder, and polysubstance dependence. The Veteran also received a grant of service connection for secondary stomach disorder. However, the claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's paranoid schizophrenia, a current disability, is at least as likely not due to stress from Desert Storm during service. The Veteran was diagnosed with a personality disorder with antisocial traits in service and had treatment for anxiety while in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia and a somatoform disorder, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to her military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors were not corroborated and thus, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied.

The preponderance of the competent evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, is related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and readjudication is required based on all evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and finds that his acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is related to service. The decision grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder but denies hypertension, kidney stones, low back disability, and cysts on the neck and ears.