Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development to include obtaining VA treatment records, scheduling a psychiatric examination, and a bilateral knee examination.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of a right ankle disorder, headache disorder, or psychiatric disorder. The claim for service connection was denied as there is insufficient medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's heart disability is etiologically related to his active duty service and grants service connection for a heart disability. The acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD, claimed as depression and anxiety, is also found to be related to service, including as secondary to the heart disability.

The Board has determined that the January 2011 decision denying service connection for PTSD was not final, and thus the claim is being reconsidered. The Veteran's diagnoses of anxiety and depression have not been attributed to any in-service event, and service connection for personality and substance abuse disorders is legally precluded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, sciatic nerve disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability (depression and/or anxiety) as secondary to his low back disability. The decision found that there was no nexus between the current disabilities and service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and its relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his service-connected left knee disability and granted service connection for this condition. The skin rash was not found to be related to service, and thus denied. Migraine headaches were also granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete development and the issues of a higher initial rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU from November 26, 2004 to November 22, 2010 are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's dermatitis was granted service connection as a preexisting condition that did not worsen during his final period of active duty. The cervical spine disability was denied due to lack of evidence showing it was incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the lack of a transcript from his previously scheduled hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after any necessary development.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder did not have its onset during service and is not related to an injury, disease or event in service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's lichen planus is found to be service-connected due to exposure at Camp Lejeune.,Service connection for right knee disability, eye disability, and back disability remains pending as the issue was not fully developed.

The Board is remanding the claims of service connection for ED, a left wrist condition, a left ankle condition, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric condition (including posttraumatic stress disorder and depression) due to their interrelated nature. The claim of service connection for hypertension is also being remanded as it may be related to the Veteran's service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions including a lumbar spine disability, hemorrhoids, hernia, an acquired psychiatric disorder, left leg sciatic nerve damage, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address these claims.,The Veteran seeks service connection for hemorrhoids. VA treatment records document current treatment for this condition. He also testified about having bloody stools in service. No opinion was provided regarding the relationship between his hemorrhoids and military service.,The Veteran seeks service connection for a hernia. VA treatment records document current treatment for this condition. He also testified about experiencing symptoms related to hemorrhoids such as bloody stools since discharge from service. No opinion was provided regarding the relationship between his hernia and military service.,The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to tinnitus. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address these claims.,The Veteran seeks service connection for left leg sciatic nerve damage, which he contends is related to his lumbar spine disability. No opinion was provided regarding the relationship between his left leg sciatic nerve damage and military service or his lumbar spine disability.,The Veteran seeks a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. VA treatment records document current treatment for this condition. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address these claims.,The Veteran seeks TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. No opinion was provided regarding the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be service-connected due to noise exposure during active duty. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder and IHD are remanded.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the February 2003 RO decision is not new and material, and thus does not warrant reopening the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disability. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and COPD are denied as the preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizo-affective disorder, neurotic depression, and depressive disorder, is presumed to have first manifested during service.

The Board has determined that service connection is granted for cold injury residuals of the upper and lower extremities. The Veteran's left knee disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (including a cognitive disorder, organic anxiety disorder, and dementia), and hearing loss are all related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically schizophrenia, was aggravated by service and granted service connection for this condition.