Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and arranging for an orthopedic examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to fully and correctly adjudicate the claims on appeal, including obtaining National Guard service records, VA treatment records from October 2015 onward, and private medical treatment records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board found no evidence of a psychiatric disorder during service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD, is related to his active military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's schizophrenia has not manifested in total occupational and social impairment, thus the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent is denied.

The Board denied service connection for liver disease and low back disorder, but granted a rating in excess of 70 percent for the psychiatric disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disability is related to alcohol use and not service, thus denying service connection.

The Veteran failed to report for necessary VA examinations, resulting in the denial of claims for increased ratings and service connection.,A right hand disorder other than status post right 5th finger fracture with deformity was not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder, but did not address whether there was a nexus between the condition and service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine and psychiatric disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and review of the Veteran's medical records, including VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits records. The claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision also noted that the Veteran had not been afforded a VA examination to determine the etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, chronic fatigue syndrome, and a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness based on Persian Gulf service are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of his kidney disease and an evaluation of his claim for PTSD. The kidney disorder may be related to herbicide exposure or pre-existing conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder, including schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, schizophrenia, and depression, was not incurred or aggravated during his military service or within one year of a period of active service. The evidence does not support a finding that it is related to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the claim as there is no longer a justiciable case or controversy regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD.

The Board has found that the Veteran's diagnosed PTSD is related to stressful incidents that took place in service, and thus grants service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, has been reopened and granted. His malaria is rated at a compensable level (30%). The Veteran also has service-connected disabilities that preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have onset during service and is presumed incurred therein. The Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA psychiatric examination. The issues of an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and entitlement to a TDIU rating are being addressed.