Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back injury, scar on lower back, and mental disorder. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and a VA examination to determine the nature and severity of the Veteran's disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression and schizophrenia. The new evidence received since the 1977 denial shows a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's evaluation for depression with schizophrenia was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating of more than 70 percent.

The claim of service connection for a low back disability is denied, and the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been assigned a 10 percent rating, the maximum authorized under Diagnostic Code 6260.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable (zero percent).,Service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension was not established due to lack of evidence showing onset during service or within one year post-service.,There is no indication that the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not supported by the evidence of record and have been denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is not service-connected and denied his claim. The residuals of TBI are currently rated at 40 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including depression, is proximately due to or the result of service-connected disabilities, specifically his right and left knee disabilities. Therefore, service connection for a psychiatric disability on a secondary basis is granted.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent since June 29, 2015. The rating for his posttraumatic stress disorder with adjustment disorder and depressed mood has been increased to 30 percent effective February 6, 2013. His anal fistula cyst remains non-compensable. His digestive disorder is rated at zero percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety neurosis), a left arm disorder, and a right leg disorder have been granted. The claim for diabetes mellitus, type II remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for prostate cancer is dismissed. The appeals for service connection for lung disability and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is related to her military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's knee disabilities and hypertension, as well as a need for an examination to confirm a psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records, arranging for VA examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities and any acquired psychiatric disorders, and determining the nature and etiology of any diagnosed eye disorders.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates and ratings related to his service-connected schizophrenia have been granted. The case is now pending further development of records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Crohn's Disease and Acquired Psychiatric Disorder are not related to his active military service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service onset or direct connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's respiratory disorder was not present during active military service or to a compensable degree within one year of separation, and is not etiologically related to any incident of service. The claim for respiratory disorder has been denied.

The Board has deferred the decision on the service connection for a bilateral eye disorder due to its intertwinement with the respiratory condition. The issues of service connection for uterine cancer and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than posttraumatic stress disorder have been remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for higher disability ratings for allergic rhinitis and left inguinal hernia have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for urinary frequency, right hip strain, left hip strain, lumbosacral strain, right shoulder strain, left shoulder strain, and left foot bunion, as well as a psychiatric disability.