Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to make a determination on the Veteran's claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and service personnel records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum medical opinion. The Veteran seeks service connection for a psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a valid claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, skin disability other than dermatitis, or low back disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to review the appeal.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for pellagra, avitaminosis and malnutrition (including optic atrophy associated with malnutrition), and a psychiatric disorder (anxiety).

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and procedural issues, including a failure to provide the Veteran with necessary forms for obtaining treatment records. The claims will be reconsidered after all requested development is completed.

The Veteran's service was not sufficient to meet the eligibility criteria for Post-9/11 GI Bill educational assistance due to lack of 30 days of post-9/11 service or discharge due to a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the appellant's current low back disability is not related to his active duty for training and denied service connection. The claim of reopening a psychiatric disorder was also remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is granted secondary to service-connected cervical spine and mechanical upper back pain syndrome.,Bilateral leg pain is not found to be caused by the Veteran's service-connected conditions.,Cervical spine DDD was increased to 30 percent from March 8, 2007 onwards and to 40 percent from July 10, 2014 onwards.,Combined evaluations in excess of 30% prior to March 8, 2007 are denied as not meeting criteria.,A combined evaluation in excess of 60% (30% + 40%) is granted from July 10, 2014 onwards for cervical spine DDD and mechanical upper back syndrome.,Service connection for TDIU is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for cardiovascular disease and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include paranoid schizophrenia, as there is no evidence of a disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by service. The Veteran's current diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia was first noted post-service and not linked to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome has been reopened, and his rating for psychiatric disability has been increased to 70 percent effective as of January 25, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his authorized representative indicating he wishes to withdraw from appellate review of the claims for service connection for a skin disorder, tremors and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but remanded the issue of TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran's right great toe bunion existed prior to service and was not aggravated by his active service. The claim for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is not related to service and therefore denied his claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to issues raised by the Court in a June 2016 memorandum decision. The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder will be remanded for clarification of the significance of a claimed stressor involving G.L., and for consideration of whether any superimposed heel spurs are related to service. The bilateral pes planus claim will also be remanded for clarification regarding the relevance of the Veteran's first period of service, and for an opinion on whether any superimposed disease or injury resulted in additional disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, was incurred during peacetime service and is granted on a presumptive basis.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed neck and middle back disabilities, finding that they are attributable to injuries sustained during his active duty. The acquired psychiatric disability claim is remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service.