Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to issues related to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, specifically schizophrenia, catatonic type.

The Veteran's respiratory disorders (COPD and asthma) are not related to his active service, as they are more likely due to his history of smoking.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, did not manifest during service and is unrelated to service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral leg radiculopathy and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, as secondary to her service-connected conditions. The appeal is remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, finding that his service-connected conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings or earlier effective dates.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran is granted a 100 percent rating for Meniere's disease prior to February 11, 2011. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to service-connected Meniere's disease is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia and granted it, finding that new and material evidence had been submitted. The Veteran now has a current diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder with bipolar type.

The Board granted a 100% disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia (previously evaluated as major depressive disorder with severe psychotic features) prior to October 22, 2014. The claim for service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and further development is needed. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's schizophrenia, a condition he was diagnosed with in service, is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by military service, and it may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD, a higher rating for PTSD, and TDIU is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and remanded the remaining issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and TDIU.

The Board found no evidence of a neck injury during service and concluded that the Veteran's current neck disability is not related to his military service. For the psychiatric claims, the VA examiner noted in-service mental health treatment but concluded there was insufficient evidence linking the current conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, anemia, lupus, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service from March 12, 1972 to April 10, 1972 is recognized, meeting the criteria for veteran status.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, is related to his active military service from November 1990 to June 1991. However, the VA examiner found no evidence of IBS during service and concluded that it does not represent an unusual disability picture warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA psychiatric examination to determine her current psychiatric diagnosis and its etiology. The TDIU claim is deferred pending resolution of the acquired psychiatric disorder claim.

The Board found no evidence of a current psychiatric disability that is related to service, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's schizophrenia, which is currently rated at 30 percent disabling, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his symptoms do not result in total occupational and social impairment.