Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that new evidence submitted since the December 2006 denial does not establish a causal relationship between the Veteran's psychiatric disorder and service. The claim is therefore denied.

The Veteran's cause of death was a motor vehicle accident caused by complications of his service-connected schizophrenia. The claim for service connection for the cause of death is granted as the service-connected disability (schizophrenia) is considered the principal cause of death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to issues concerning his TBI residuals and acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and mood disorder. The case is now pending further development and action.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as bipolar disorder, is service-connected. The rating for his scar of the right leg, status post gunshot wound, remains at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claims and reviewing certain treatment records.

The Board has granted a higher initial disability rating of 70 percent for the service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder from July 5, 2009 to October 4, 2011 and from October 31, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support the claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of her acquired psychiatric disorder is not supported by any timely NOD or new and material evidence submitted within one year of the April 1996 rating decision. As such, the effective date remains August 1, 2003.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened, and the Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of this claim. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is also addressed in the remand portion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete development and the need for additional medical opinions regarding his service-connected PTSD, residuals of cold injury, and schizophrenia.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder is not related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's schizophrenia disorder, undifferentiated type was manifested by occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks due to symptoms such as nightmares and flashbacks. The disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no credible evidence of in-service stressors or a diagnosis of PTSD. The Veteran's claimed conditions were not found to be related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's preexisting condition was aggravated by active service. The effective date is not specified as it relates to aggravation rather than initial service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for epileptic seizures and PTSD was denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have PTSD, but did find sufficient evidence to grant service connection for depression and panic disorders.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during the period of his claim and he did not have an acquired psychiatric disorder at the time of service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, and hepatitis B and C. The issue of entitlement to TDIU will be deferred until the increased rating claim for hepatitis B and C is adjudicated.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and consideration of lay statements regarding the onset and continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed as PTSD and depressive disorder, is found to be related to in-service stressors. The lung disorder claim is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service exposure. Service connection for the remaining conditions is granted.