Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and TDIU are being remanded to the RO for further adjudication.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a psychiatric examination to determine the etiology of the appellant's current psychiatric disorder.

The Board found no evidence of a direct relationship between the claimed conditions and service, thus denying all claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and for additional medical opinions regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case to afford the Veteran a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO due to his request for representation and need for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining mental health clinic treatment records and VA treatment notes. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on all evidence added to the record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to arrange for a Board hearing due to scheduling issues. The Veteran requested a hearing but the initial notice was sent to the wrong representative and rescheduling requests were made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a chronic headache disorder have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board is unsure if the Veteran meets the criteria for PTSD and notes that additional medical evaluation may help resolve this issue. The psychiatric history of the Veteran's service in the 1970s was not addressed, and VA treatment records since July 2011 are requested.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including adjudication of the claims for service connection as a substitute claimant.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches, heart disability, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, left knee disability, and skin disability are found to be secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The Veteran is granted service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no competent evidence linking any of the claimed conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that a de novo service connection analysis is proper for the psychiatric disorder issue on appeal. The Veteran now claims his psychiatric disability is the result of a personal assault in service, and VA will remand to obtain more information about this claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to new and material evidence being associated with the case file. The Veteran's service connection, rating, and TDIU claims are pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a back injury, to include sciatica and erectile dysfunction (claimed as residual of treatment for pneumonia), as well as psychiatric disability, asbestos-related disease, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or any related in-service events.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was engaged in substantially gainful employment prior to August 31, 2010, and therefore does not meet the criteria for TDIU during this period.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include delusional disorder and schizophrenia, and for ratings in excess of 30 percent prior to August 5, 2011, and in excess of 50 percent from that date (now, up to August 10, 2013), for PTSD have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's left ankle disability, currently rated as 10 percent disabling for moderate limitation of motion, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board finds that the current 10 percent rating adequately reflects the severity of his service-connected left ankle sprain.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder NOS. The remaining claims are remanded for additional development.