Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities. The examiner must provide opinions on whether each diagnosed condition is related to service or experiences therein.

The Board denied service connection for an ear disorder and obstructive sleep apnea, finding no evidence of a nexus to service. The claim for levoscoliosis with degenerative changes in the lumbar spine was denied as final due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including prostate disability, chronic fatigue or exhaustion with shortness of breath, neuropathy in the lower extremities, numbness of the arms and hands, headaches, acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as mood disorder secondary to general medical condition), left hand arthritis, left knee arthritis, and skin disability (chloracne).

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, did not have onset during active service or within one year of discharge. The evidence showed no chronic symptoms documented in service records and post-service treatment records do not document ongoing and continuous psychiatric complaints since service.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a chronic eye disability. The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD and finds no link between his current acquired psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and service. The evidence shows a chronic disability began several years after separation from active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including psychosis and depression, was denied as there is no evidence of a mental health condition during or related to his military service.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction was also denied because the Veteran did not have a service-connected disability that caused or aggravated his condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, is related to his military service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease are not service-connected due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents during military service. The acquired psychiatric disability claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records from the 1970s and 1980s. The issues of increased disability rating for schizophrenia and TDIU prior to March 17, 2011 are being considered.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining SSA records and service treatment records. The Veteran will be provided a VA examination to assess his acquired psychiatric disorder and frostbite residuals.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the appeal due to additional evidence received since April 2012, and a videoconference hearing is required.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied, but he is currently in receipt of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability characterized by Generalized Anxiety Disorder with Panic Attacks.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of his claim. The Board also granted a TDIU based on the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is unrelated to his military service and therefore denies the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's daughter, R.E.H., is permanently incapable of self-support due to her severe and permanent psychiatric disabilities that have been ongoing since she was 12 years old. The evidence shows she has required extensive mental health treatment throughout her life.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied as there is no credible evidence of a current diagnosis or verified in-service stressors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, increased schedular rating for total left knee replacement, and earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for total left knee replacement. The appeal was not about service connection at all.