Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and updated VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Board also found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to his combat experiences in Vietnam.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disability claimed as arthritis, an initial compensable rating for residuals of a laceration of the right wrist, and an initial compensable rating for residuals of a stab wound to the abdomen. The appeal to reopen service connection for HIV infection was also denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 and PTSD are service connected due to exposure in Vietnam. The psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is also service-connected.

The Veteran's headaches have been found to meet the criteria for a 50 percent rating, with very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as schizophrenia, is related to his active military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to deficiencies in previous medical opinions and need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and Anxiety Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (NOS), based on credible evidence of a grenade explosion during basic training. The claim for PTSD was reopened due to new and material evidence.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and severe depressive disorder, is currently rated at 70 percent. The evidence does not support a higher rating or entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's vision loss of the right eye, neuropathy of the left upper extremity (claimed as loss of command, left sided neuropathy and weakness), cognitive disorder (claimed as cognitive disorder to include, but not limited to, attention, memory, loss of time, space, and aphasia), and an acquired psychiatric condition, to include anxiety and depression, are considered residuals of a cerebrovascular accident. The Board has determined that these disabilities were caused by VA treatment due to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or some other instance of fault on the part of VA.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied both motions for revision or reversal based on CUE in the March 1986 and March 2, 1987 decisions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's kidney condition, neck disability, and pancreas condition are related to his service-connected disabilities. The heart condition is not directly connected to any service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's respiratory and neuropsychiatric symptoms are related to an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, based on new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claim is now pending a decision on whether service connection should be granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The Board also finds that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disability is etiologically related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for various service connection claims, including those related to psychiatric disorders, hearing loss, arthritis, and dental conditions. The Board also remanded several issues for further development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is found to be related to his military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. The Veteran's claim was not decided on the merits of a lumbar spine condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from the August 2016 examiner regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) was aggravated by his service-connected hepatitis C. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the service connection issue and must be deferred.