Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and left carpal tunnel syndrome. The Veteran's current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for a service-connected disability in all cases.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is service-connected as it began in service and persists.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records from private health care providers and clarifying when each diagnosed psychiatric disability first manifested.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Meniere's disease is at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection for this condition is granted. The issue of service connection for unspecified psychiatric disabilities remains on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and clarification, including obtaining additional VA treatment records, SSA records, and private medical records. The Veteran is also required to provide any outstanding relevant private treatment records or complete a release for such providers.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, due to a lack of verified in-service stressor and medical evidence linking any diagnosed psychiatric disorder to an in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the initial rating for mechanical low back pain with degenerative disc disease and the claim for a TDIU prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran incurred paranoid schizophrenia in service and is entitled to service connection for this condition. However, personality disorders are not diseases or injuries subject to VA compensation benefits.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and opinions regarding service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and tinnitus did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to August 26, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including seeking an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is due to his service, specifically head injuries and twisted neck.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities for which service connection can be granted, and therefore, his claims are denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty, including service in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial evaluations have been denied. The Board found no evidence of ankylosis, incapacitating episodes, or other criteria warranting higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including obtaining VA examinations and records to determine if service connection can be established for back problems, hip disabilities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to ensure there is a complete record upon which to decide the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's claims are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, schizophrenia, has been found to be manifested by impaired judgment and difficulty with financial decisions. The Board determined that the Veteran is not competent to handle direct payment of VA benefits without limitation.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for schizophrenia and granted a rating of 30% for coronary artery disease. The Veteran's psychiatric disability is found to be related to her active military service, raising reasonable doubt in favor of her claim.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as dysthymic disorder, is found to be secondary to her service-connected tension headaches. The RO has granted the higher ratings for neck and tension headaches effective April 29, 2015.