Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's headaches, acquired psychiatric condition (claimed as panic disorder), and skin condition (claimed as shingles and hives) have all been associated with her service-connected medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral eye disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to the eye disability. Additional evidence is needed for other claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion on the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, scheduling a psychiatric examination, and determining the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and personnel records. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder will be evaluated by a VA examiner to determine its onset during service or otherwise related to any in-service event or injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran is granted TDIU based on his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability alone, and SMC under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) due to additional service-connected disabilities totaling at least 60 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss is related to service and granted his claim for service connection. The acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and PTSD, was also found to be related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's prostate cancer and acquired psychiatric disorder are not related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, was not incurred or aggravated by active service and is not attributable to service.

The case is being remanded to the AOJ for further development and examination, including for a back disability, psychiatric disability as secondary to a back disability, and hemorrhoids.

The Board denied reopening the claim for a lumbar spine disorder and granted reopening of the claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, specifically depressive disorder. The Veteran's depression was found to be at least as likely as not due to his service.

The Board found that the claimant was not permanently incapable of self-support prior to her 18th birthday, and thus is not entitled to recognition as a helpless child for VA benefits.

The Veteran's claim for a 100 percent evaluation for schizoaffective disorder is granted effective February 3, 2011. The appeal on service connection and increased evaluations are dismissed.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, including determining if any pre-existing acquired psychiatric disorder was aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and an updated opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, which may be related to his service-connected hepatitis C.

The Board denied service connection for a disability manifested by inflammation of the colon and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's inflammation of the colon was not found to be present at any point during the appeal period, while his acquired psychiatric disorder was not linked to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune or any other service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further efforts to verify the Veteran's reported in-service stressor, specifically regarding an Airman who reportedly died during training exercises. The Veteran's claim is being returned to the AOJ for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient information provided by the Veteran regarding his claimed in-service stressors. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to verify the stressful events described in the VA Form 21-0781 submitted by the Veteran and any additional information received from him.