Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hammertoes, calluses of the feet, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and cervical spine due to a fall during VA medical treatment. The right shoulder disorder is also granted as a result of the same incident.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and found new and material evidence to support this claim. However, it denied service connection on a direct basis.,Service connection was also denied for degenerative arthritis of both knees and heart condition.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted with a 50% rating effective April 28, 2011. Service connection for a skin disability and an acquired psychiatric disability were also granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disability, and his reported military sexual trauma cannot be confirmed. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verification of in-service stressors and VA examinations to assess the Veteran's psychiatric disorders and right eye corneal ulcer with corneal scarring.

The Veteran's psychiatric condition and TDIU claims are granted with effective dates of April 3, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, related to military sexual trauma (MST), was denied as there is insufficient credible supporting evidence of a diagnosed condition. The Board also found that the Veteran does not have any other service-connected disabilities and therefore cannot meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Board denied the appellant's appeal regarding his initial rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder, assigning a 70 percent disability rating effective March 14, 2012. The issue of TDIU was also denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression. The new evidence received since the final denial in May 2010 raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral foot disability, neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and a psychiatric disability. The Veteran's current conditions are not considered to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected gunshot wounds.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to potential missing VA treatment records. The AOJ must obtain all relevant medical records and readjudicate the cases.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's paranoid schizophrenia is related to service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's hypertension and renal dysfunction associated with it are granted initial ratings of 10% and 30%, respectively, effective June 7, 2011. Service connection for an anxiety disorder is also granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a psychiatric examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and his psychiatric symptoms do not meet the criteria for service connection. The back disorder was also not shown in service or for many years thereafter, and is not otherwise related to active duty service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depressive disorder with anxiety, was not caused or aggravated by any aspect of service.,The Veteran's tinnitus did not manifest during active service and is not attributable to any aspect of service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is established as service-connected, while his neuropathy and bilateral hearing loss are denied. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD and a depressive disorder) is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional VA medical opinions to determine the etiology of her depressive disorder NOS, including whether it is related to service-connected patellofemoral pain syndrome and medication.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD with symptoms of memory loss. However, a new examination is needed to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD or MDD, and whether these conditions are related to active service.