Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the service connection claims for a back disorder and a psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the back and an acquired psychiatric disability, finding no credible evidence to support his assertions of in-service injuries or a link between his current conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral knee and ankle disorders, and weak feet were denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disability during service or that any current disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran is found not competent to handle disbursement of VA funds due to his mental health condition, specifically schizophrenia and major depression.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C and psychiatric disorder were not incurred in service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during his military service. The Board concluded that these conditions are more likely related to post-military life stressors.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration records. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and increased rating for left ear hearing loss were denied. The Board found no evidence of PTSD or other acquired psychiatric disorders, and the noncompensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss was upheld based on VA audiometric evaluations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and tinnitus was denied. The Board found no evidence of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and the VA examiner did not find a link between current symptoms and in-service stressors. However, the Veteran's credible statements regarding the onset and continuity of his tinnitus were considered sufficient to grant service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's military sexual trauma occurred and its relationship to his PTSD. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD is not service-connected as there was no confirmed stressor. The Schizo-affective Disorder pre-existed service and increased in severity during service.

The Veteran's schizophrenia has been rated at 70 percent since September 1, 2006, based on total occupational and social impairment due to persistent delusions, hallucinations, intermittent periods of inability to perform activities of daily living, and other symptoms.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD, is found to be etiologically related to his active service. The Board also finds that the Veteran's hypertension may be permanently worsened by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's character of discharge under other than honorable conditions for his second period of service is not a bar to VA benefits. Additionally, the Board has found that there is sufficient evidence to support the conclusion that the Veteran's diagnosed schizophrenia had its onset during his second period of military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of evidence regarding back pain and treatment shortly after service, as well as in relation to a psychiatric disability potentially related to a lumbar spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic lumbar strain and lumbar spine DJD. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is denied.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to a lack of credible evidence corroborating the Veteran's alleged in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, dysthymic disorder, and adjustment disorder with depressed mood), drug and alcohol abuse, and sleep disorder were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to military service.,Service connection could not be established as the Veteran's personality disorder is not a disease or injury within the meaning of applicable legislation.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. As a result, the Board dismisses this issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability. The right knee and low back disabilities are also denied as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that a VA examination and addendum opinion are needed to clarify the Veteran's current diagnoses and their relationship to his service. The Veteran is also entitled to additional notice regarding his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder as due to military sexual trauma (MST).