Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional substantive development is required for the initial rating, service connection and TDIU claims due to the need for a VA examination and outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been granted. The Board has remanded several other issues including service connection for thyroid disability, right shoulder disability, low back disability, neck disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, cataracts, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's daughter's claim for permanent incapacity for self-support due to mental or physical defect prior to attaining age 18, finding insufficient evidence of permanent incapacity at that time.

The appeal has been expanded to include all acquired psychiatric disorders due to the evidence of record. A remand is needed to address several psychiatric diagnoses and provide a nexus opinion, especially regarding one claimed stressor related to an in-service aircraft accident.

The Board has received new and material evidence to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a headache disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression). The appeals are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in its July 2016 decision, where it relied on VA examiners' conclusions that the Veteran did not have PTSD. The case is now being sent back for a new examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for right foot plantar fasciitis, right ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, benign prostatic hyperplasia and hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorder, erectile dysfunction (ED), left foot plantar fasciitis, bilateral onychomycosis, eye disorder, left ankle disorder, back disorder, and tinnitus have all been denied. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a bilateral eye disability, bronchitis, collapsed left lung, viral infection of the lungs, and an acquired psychiatric disability, all allegedly due to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The claims will be reviewed with additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a nervous disorder was reopened and granted. He is also granted service connection for schizoaffective disorder, depressive type, and generalized anxiety disorder.,Service connection has been established for left hip disability, hypertension, and kidney disability (conceded exposure to tetrachloride).

The Board has granted an effective date of December 21, 2009 for a 70 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date than August 17, 1993, for a 100% disability rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder is denied as there was no legal entitlement to such an earlier date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder, neck disorder, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, type II, and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) require additional development due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disorder, including whether it is related to service or caused by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence. The effective date for the grant of service connection for a left ankle sprain is denied as there were no prior unadjudicated claims.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been denied.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and anxiety) is granted as secondary to service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for schizophrenia and PTSD have been granted. The appeals to reopen the claims for left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and headaches are also granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for his acquired psychiatric disability was denied. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 100 percent evaluation.,Service connection for type 2 diabetes, to include as due to Gulf War illness, was also denied. The VA examiner indicated there is no evidence linking the current diabetes disability to service.

This decision denies service connection for burns and non-service connected pension benefits. The Veteran's burn injuries are not related to his military service, and he does not have the required wartime service for nonservice-connected pension benefits.,The remaining issues of service connection for various conditions are remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including unspecified schizophrenia, other psychotic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, major depression and schizophreniform disorder, are service-connected as they likely began during her active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including blurred vision, dizziness, an irregular heartbeat, and headaches.