Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to a need for further review and consideration, including referral to the Under Secretary for Benefits regarding his prostate cancer claim. Additionally, new VA examinations are required to assess whether he meets the criteria for PTSD using DSM-V criteria.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The Board found no evidence linking the current headaches to the service-connected hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, or a heart disorder due to lack of evidence supporting his claimed in-service stressors and POW status.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing schizophrenia did not worsen during his period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and therefore denied service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an addendum to the VA PTSD examination and further consideration of secondary service connection criteria.

The Board found that the Veteran's bipolar disorder and Hepatitis A vaccination residuals are not related to his service.,Both conditions were denied as there was no evidence of an in-service event or injury leading to these disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (MDD and PTSD) has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability has been rated at 30 percent for the entire appeal period, but is now granted a higher rating of 50 percent due to increased occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA records. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (specifically paranoid schizophrenia) and whether the Veteran is competent to handle disbursement of funds are also being addressed.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia. The Veteran was diagnosed with a schizophrenic reaction during service but does not have a current diagnosis of any psychiatric disability.

The Board has found that the Veteran's right eye disability, including his loss of vision in the right eye, is at least as likely as not related to service. The VA examiner opined that the acquired psychiatric disorders are also related to service and stressors associated with military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new findings in VA medical opinions and incomplete records. The claims are related as they involve multiple conditions potentially linked to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for psychiatric disabilities, foot rash and skin disorders, right knee disability, and right arm disability as they were not incurred or aggravated during service.

The Veteran's service-connected neuropsychiatric condition did not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating prior to September 14, 2016 and in excess of 50 percent thereafter.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for multiple intracranial cavernous angiomas and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that these conditions are congenital defects not subject to VA compensation benefits.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his psychiatric conditions did not cause or contribute to his death, including from prescribed medications.

The Board has expanded the Veteran's claim to include all acquired psychiatric disabilities and is remanding for a new VA examination to determine if any diagnosed disorder is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim and must be deferred.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule VA examinations for his claimed conditions. The claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board granted service connection for schizophrenia and paranoid type with depression, effective March 28, 2000. The Veteran is also entitled to an earlier effective date of March 28, 2000, for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA).