Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran has a psychiatric disorder that can be linked to service, and therefore grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his service personnel records and updated VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TBI residuals and acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depression, are due to service. As a result, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric condition was received on June 16, 2005. The Board finds that an earlier effective date is not warranted and denies the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's schizophrenia, a psychiatric disorder, had its onset during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of burns and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD. The claim for residuals of burns was denied as a matter of law due to failure to report for a scheduled VA examination. For the acquired psychiatric disorder, there is no evidence of a current disability or a link between service and the claimed condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for a new VA examination. The Veteran's claim will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia has rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his mental incapacity, which requires care or assistance on a regular basis to protect him from the hazards or dangers inherent in his daily environment. The Board finds that the criteria for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance benefits have been met.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability did not result in more than mild social and industrial impairment between June 13, 1988, and August 15, 1995. For the period from August 16, 1995, to July 22, 1999, it resulted in definite industrial impairment; or occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. For the period from July 23, 1999, to May 18, 2006, it did not result in more than definite industrial impairment; or more than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as PTSD, is related to his service and grants this claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is not etiologically related to service and did not manifest within a year of separation, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his noise exposure in service and grants this claim. The claim for PTSD was denied as there is no current diagnosis of tinnitus, which is a requirement for diagnosing PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a psychiatric examination. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and entitlement to TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability evaluations for the psychiatric, cervical spine, and thoracolumbar spine disabilities have been withdrawn. The Board does not have jurisdiction to review these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA mental health examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is pending.

The Board determined that service connection is not warranted for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, cervical spine disability, and erectile dysfunction as they are not related to active duty service.,Service connection was denied for all three conditions due to a lack of evidence linking them to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a Board hearing at the appropriate RO. The issues of entitlement to an acquired psychiatric disorder and entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the retrieval of relevant medical records.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, thus the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for substance abuse and a psychiatric disability, as the Veteran's current conditions are not attributable to his active duty service.