Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining information about the Veteran's in-service stressors. The issue of service connection for residuals of head trauma is also pending.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA mental health professional to examine the Veteran, review the record, and provide opinions regarding the likely history of the current psychiatric disability. The claim will be reconsidered after this examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's second period of service was discharged under Other Than Honorable conditions due to misconduct, and denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is found to contribute to his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, which are causally linked to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and PTSD. The remaining issues require additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an appropriate VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his intent to withdraw the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD.

The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and no present psychiatric disability is attributable to military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected, as it did not manifest within one year of separation from service and was not caused by in-service noise exposure.,Prior to June 25, 2010, the Veteran's schizophrenia warranted a 70 percent rating based on occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. However, since then, his condition has not met the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and TDIU, but denied service connection for an acquired mental disorder. The Veteran's current hearing loss is not compensable.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, benign prostatic hypertrophy, high cholesterol, tinea cruris, sinusitis, and a psychiatric disability (PTSD, depression, anxiety), have been dismissed due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders and considering his lay statements concerning the onset of his symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a videoconference hearing. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) and Meniere's syndrome are still pending.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a left-sided head injury, a left eye condition and psychiatric disorder. The case is REMANDED to obtain relevant medical records, arrange for appropriate VA examinations, and then readjudicate the claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional records and a VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD. This includes obtaining verification of stressor events in service, securing SSA records, and arranging for an examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of his psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is remanded due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The stressors reported by the Veteran have not been verified.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to February 19, 2004 due to the presence of other service-connected disabilities and non-service-connected conditions that rendered him unemployable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's schizophrenia, residual type, is related to his service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder is not related to service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim.