Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues, including a lack of representation and an incomplete hearing. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder will be reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the case due to a scheduling issue for an additional VA examination, and will be readjudicated after the examination is completed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing and obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA psychologist or psychiatrist regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders. The claim will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board has ordered a remand for additional development due to the need for medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate VA examination opinions and missing evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting psychiatric condition, presumed to have existed prior to service, was not aggravated by active duty and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's schizophrenia is currently rated at 50 percent, which adequately reflects the severity of his symptoms. The Board found that he does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to the lack of severe impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim of service connection for PTSD, but denied the claim as there was no diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with VA criteria. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was not linked to his active service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was also denied due to lack of a nexus between the disorders and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric, neurological, musculoskeletal, and orthopedic conditions are not related to his active service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied as there is no evidence of a verified stressor and the current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for PTSD. The claim for left knee disability was remanded by the Board.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for DDD and DJD of the cervical spine, as there is no evidence linking his current disability to his period of active duty. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing. The issues of service connection for various conditions are still pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, was denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed psychiatric condition and thus cannot establish service connection. The claim for service connection for asbestosis is pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to his failure to report for VA examinations, and the AOJ needs to reschedule him. The case will be returned to the Board after further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently have obstructive sleep apnea and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding no evidence of a current disability related to his military service.

The Veteran's hypertension is related to his military service. The claims for service connection for gouty arthritis, cervical and lumbar spine disorders, and bilateral leg disorders are denied as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA medical records and scheduling a new VA examination to address his claims for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as an eye disability. The acquired psychiatric disability claim is pending due to the need to first address whether the Veteran's character of discharge serves as a bar to VA compensation benefits.

The Veteran's low back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder (conversion disorder with depression) have been granted service connection, and the rating for the psychiatric disorder has been increased to 70 percent.