Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records. The claims of service connection will be readjudicated after the additional development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues of service connection for a low back disorder, skin rash, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claims are being remanded to obtain private treatment records and to provide an addendum VA examination.

The Veteran's back condition is granted service connection, but his left ankle disability and acquired psychiatric disabilities are denied. The hearing loss claim remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection for psychiatric disability and sarcoidosis. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed again after additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and TDIU due to lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressors occurred, and because the Veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy. The Veteran is currently service-connected for anxiety with depressive disorder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, intervertebral disc syndrome, right knee lateral instability, tinnitus, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, limitation of flexion in the right and left knees, and residuals of a left wrist fracture.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder preexisted service and was not aggravated by active duty, thus denying service connection. The Veteran also did not meet the criteria for nonservice-connected pension due to his age and lack of evidence of permanent total disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, and alcohol/drug abuse disorder is denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and the schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type has not been shown to be etiologically related to his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of TBI and PTSD was granted. The issue of reopening the previously denied PTSD claim was also granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's neck disability, back disability, and psychiatric disabilities.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against granting the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than depression and for a disability manifested by dizziness. The record does not show these disabilities are related to active service or any incident of service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a scheduling issue for a videoconference hearing. The Veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disorder and bilateral hearing loss are still pending.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder with psychotic features, is related to service and has been granted. The TDIU issue remains pending as the initial rating for the condition must be assigned first.

The Veteran's dysthymic disorder is found to be caused by her service-connected chronic lumbar strain.,From May 26, 2011 to March 18, 2014, the Veteran's chronic lumbar strain disability more closely approximates forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine at 30 degrees or less.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and the Board finds that service connection for this condition is warranted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is caused by his service-connected knee disabilities, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, was found to be aggravated by service. Service connection is granted for this condition as well as his concurrent alcohol use disorder, cannabis use disorder, and cocaine use disorder.

The Veteran's appeal involves increased ratings for his cervical spine disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as a claim for TDIU. The case is being remanded to provide the Veteran with additional VA examinations to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Board found that the overpayment of $2,655.00 was properly created due to a failure by VA to withhold attorney fees from past-due benefits granted in an October 2015 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.