Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain his complete service personnel file, verify any heavy metal exposure during service, and provide an opinion on the likelihood of current disabilities being related to in-service duties.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted as service-connected. The left elbow, left shoulder, right ankle, and right knee disorders are denied due to lack of evidence linking them to service or a service-connected condition. The thoracolumbar spine disorder, testicular pain, chest pain (costochondritis), stomach pain, and headaches are also denied.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently service-connected, but the cervical spine disability and lumbar spine disability have not been established as service-connected.,Service connection for the acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and PTSD) has been granted.

The Veteran's schizophrenia, paranoid type prior to March 22, 2012, resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect, impaired abstract thinking, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty establishing effective work and social relationships.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a Board hearing. The claims of service connection and increased ratings are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for an updated VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD, including any interrelated schizophrenia.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a left foot disability, dental trauma, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (insomnia, depression, anxiety, PTSD). He also seeks increased ratings for his lower back and right shoulder disabilities. Additionally, he requests TDIU.,The Veteran has filed a claim for service connection due to a dental trauma in service. The VA treatment records from the Perkins Dental Clinic and Dr. Kim's office have not been obtained yet.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (insomnia, depression, anxiety, PTSD). He also seeks increased ratings for his lower back and right shoulder disabilities. Additionally, he requests TDIU.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a neck disability. The VA treatment records from Dr. Kim have not been obtained yet.,The Veteran is seeking an increased rating for his lower back disability. An additional examination is needed to determine the extent of pain and loss of function during motion.,The Veteran is seeking an increased rating for his right shoulder disability. An additional examination is needed to determine the extent of pain and loss of function during motion. The examiner should also consider whether there are any flare-ups that cause additional functional loss.,The Veteran is seeking TDIU. He has not provided updated information on his employment status since the last VA adjudication.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was granted service connection. Service connection for left elbow, left shoulder, right ankle, and right knee disorders were denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability. Service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder, testicular pain, chest pain (costochondritis), stomach pain, and headaches was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TBI and PTSD are related to her service, warranting a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and sleep apnea are not related to service or service-connected diabetes, thus denying both claims.

The Board found no evidence of current residuals of a head injury, including dyslexia, and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and requesting an addendum to the August 2015 VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia contributed substantially in causing his death due to uncontrolled diabetes, which was a result of the Veteran's non-compliance with insulin medication. The Board finds that the Veteran's schizophrenia led to his insulin non-compliance and thus combined to cause death.

The Board found that the Veteran's current eye/vision disability and acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, are not related to his military service or any service-connected conditions. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board has also remanded several issues, including scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, systemic arthritis, bipolar disorder, leprosy, and diverticulitis. The appeals were based on direct evidence of a relationship to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have its onset during service and has been recurrent since then, warranting service connection.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder had its onset during service and was confirmed by a VA mental health provider.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased evaluations for acquired psychiatric disorder and low back disability, as well as TDIU due to further development being required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including schizotypal personality disorder and schizophrenia, clearly and unmistakably pre-existed service and was not aggravated by active duty. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as bipolar disorder, was determined to have its onset during his military service and is therefore granted service connection.