Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disability is not etiologically related to his active service and was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar strain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his service personnel records and providing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address the relationship between his acquired psychiatric disorder(s) and significant or severe stress.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's GERD was incurred in service and granted service connection. The esophageal disorder other than GERD is related to service, as are asthma and bronchitis. Service connection for a cervical spine disorder and a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder were denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records from the Nevada Department of Corrections and a VA examination. The Veteran's claim remains in a pending status.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining an opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and its relation to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder has been rated at 50 percent disabling from February 1, 2006 to September 5, 2013 and at 70 percent disabling from September 5, 2013 to July 12, 2016. The rating of 50 percent is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disorder and therefore, service connection for a psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for ocular histoplasmosis, bilateral nephrolithiasis, an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety and depression), renal disease, and mediastinal obstructive syndrome as secondary to exposure to Histoplasma capsulatum on active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for heart disorders, headaches, cervical spine disorders, lumbar spine disorders, acquired psychiatric/mental disorders (including PTSD, depression, anxiety), and sleep disorders. The Board found no evidence to support a direct link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's psychiatric condition is not service-connected as it is felt to be a continuation of the same disorder for which he was hospitalized and treated in August 1981 while in service. The Board denied service connection for hypertension and DM, finding no evidence of their onset during service or secondary to a service-connected disability. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the Veteran's incarceration and incomplete medical records. The right hip disability and acquired psychiatric disability claims are both in need of additional examination and review.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain private medical records and identify VA facilities where the Veteran received treatment. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, gout of the bilateral feet, and a low back disability will be addressed after obtaining the necessary information.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric disorder related to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge of the Board at the RO. The Veteran's appeal is now pending again due to scheduling issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, anal fistulas, gall bladder disease, cirrhosis of the liver, and hepatitis C were not incurred in or caused by active service. The back disability was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his service.

The Veteran's initial rating for paranoid schizophrenia has been increased to 30 percent, effective March 11, 2008. The appeal is granted as the Veteran meets the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia is related to her in-service diagnosis during active duty training, and the Board finds service connection for this condition.