Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted. However, the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD, has been rated at 70 percent since September 3, 2014. The Veteran is also entitled to a TDIU due to his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the Board finds that there is no evidence of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).,The Veteran's bilateral shin splints are not manifested by at least moderate knee or ankle disability, or moderately severe muscle injury. Therefore, the current noncompensable ratings for left and right leg shin splints are denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to missed scheduled examinations, including a PTSD examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left eye corneal scar and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are related to service, granting these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining in-service mental health records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if any other psychiatric condition is related to service. The Veteran's claim of PTSD will remain pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The decision found that there was no evidence of a verified in-service stressor and that any diagnosed psychiatric condition did not have a causal relationship to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The claims of entitlement to service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral hands and right wrist disability are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder including depression, and a bilateral leg disorder. The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and for an increased rating for chronic low back strain were denied as a matter of law due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied. The Board found that there was no credible supporting evidence of the claimed stressors and no current diagnosis of PTSD. For bilateral pes planus, the Board noted that the disability existed prior to active duty and did not worsen during service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of outstanding medical records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, to include as secondary to medications taken for treatment of a service-connected disability. The claim is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as schizophrenia, is at least as likely as not related to service. The decision on low back disability remains pending due to mixed results in the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA and private treatment records, and providing an addendum opinion from a mental health professional regarding the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incomplete request for private treatment records from a VA provider. The Veteran's claim will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The denial of the right knee claim is based on lack of evidence showing that the current right knee condition is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability. For the psychiatric disorder claim, additional development is needed as the Board has not addressed this issue in its September 2015 decision.

The Board has determined that service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD, is not warranted as there is no credible evidence supporting the Veteran's claims of combat involvement or verified stressors related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection claims related to his acquired psychiatric disorder, low back disorder, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral foot disability. His cervical spine and right thumb disabilities were evaluated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's schizophrenia is found to have onset during service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.