Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed paranoid schizophrenia did not have its onset during active service or within one year of discharge, and is not otherwise related to active service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to issue a Statement of the Case for the new and material evidence issues, as instructed in the March 2016 decision.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder. He also seeks higher ratings for his right ankle fracture with osteoarthritis and chronic low back strain with degenerative changes and herniated nucleus pulposus at L5-S1.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder, is reopened on new evidence. The Board will determine whether the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD related to his reported stressors and whether it is proximately due or the result of his service-connected lumbar spine disability.,The Veteran seeks higher ratings for residuals of a right ankle fracture with osteoarthritis. A VA examination is needed to assess the severity of this condition.,The Veteran seeks separate ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The December 2015 VA spine examination findings must be considered in determining whether these conditions warrant separate ratings.,The Veteran seeks separate ratings for his lower extremity radiculopathy. A VA examination is needed to assess the severity of this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for PTSD and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Veteran was exposed to traumatic events during his military service and a VA psychiatrist confirmed the diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the etiology of his right ankle disability, acquired psychiatric disabilities, neck trauma and lower back conditions. The Veteran has not been provided with a VA examination regarding his right eye condition.

The Board has determined that the case is inextricably intertwined and must be remanded for further development, including obtaining VA traumatic brain injury (TBI) and hypertension examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, right knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder are not service-connected as they do not have a direct link to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a supplemental medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's non-PTSD psychiatric disorder, specifically whether it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected heart disorder.

The Veteran's character of discharge for his final period of service from March 1997 to February 2008 is a bar to VA benefits due to the commission of offenses during that period resulting in a dishonorable discharge. The appeal has been withdrawn with respect to several issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a rescheduled hearing. The claims of hepatitis B, liver damage secondary to hepatitis B, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety) are still pending.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development to address the Veteran's claims regarding his psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depression.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease is granted service connection as it may be presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disorder and ulcerative colitis. The Board finds that the combined schedular disability rating of 80% meets the criteria for a TDIU from August 10, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current schizophrenia diagnosis. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his acquired psychiatric disability, excluding PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are not related to his military service and denied his claims for service connection.,Similarly, the Board determined there is no evidence linking the Veteran's bilateral foot disorders to his time in service and denied his claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding no current diagnosis of PTSD and that it does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD. The claim was also denied for secondary service connection as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depression, is related to his service-connected back disability and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as secondary to his service-connected right long finger amputation, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of whether his current psychiatric condition is aggravated by his service-connected disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that it is a direct service-connected condition.