Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and unverified in-service stressors. The Veteran is required to provide updated medical records, verify his reported stressors, and obtain a VA psychiatric opinion.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for colon cancer, hypertension, circulatory problems, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (nervous condition) due to new evidence. However, it denied these claims as there was no medical evidence linking any of these conditions to service or service-connected disorders.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for neutropenia, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including GAD, PTSD, depression), bilateral plantar fasciitis, and bilateral knee osteoarthritis have been reopened. The new evidence supports the claim that his current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including her PTSD and anxiety/depression disorders. The VA needs to obtain additional medical records and conduct a new examination to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to outstanding treatment records and need for further examination.

The Board has denied service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability and remanded the remaining issues on appeal, including service connection for meningitis, chronic sinusitis, encephalopathy, skin cancer, Parkinson's disease, headaches, lumbar spine DDD, vision disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, neck stiffness, disability manifested by spitting blood, acquired psychiatric disorder, respiratory disorder, and gait ataxia. The Board also remanded for additional development regarding outstanding records from the James Haley VAMC and Social Security Administration.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressor and a need for further examination to determine if he has any acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, that is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 15, 2008, for the award of service connection for paranoid schizophrenia is denied. The Board did not rely on a May 4, 1977, service record in its September 2014 decision and thus, the criteria for an earlier effective date are not met.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, heart disease, hypertension, sleep apnea, cervical spine disability, low back/lumbar spine disability, right shoulder, knee, ankle, and/or foot disabilities, and psychiatric disorder have all been denied as there is no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year post-service. The Veteran's assertions regarding his current diagnoses are not credible.

The Veteran's schizophrenia was found to have originated during active service, and the effective date for the award of service connection is set at December 1, 1979.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding whether olanzapine, a medication for service-connected schizophrenia, contributed to the Veteran's death by cardiac arrest. The VA is required to obtain and review any relevant VA treatment records from December 2007 through March 2012.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disability due to new and material evidence. The lung disability (including OSA, GERD, and PTSD) and psychiatric disability claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a lack of SSA records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for TBI, headaches, gout, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and PTSD), and Bell’s Palsy due to incomplete records and the need for medical opinions regarding possible causation.

The Veteran's appeal is denied for a higher rating for orthostatic hypotension. The effective dates for service connection of Parkinson’s disease, tardive dyskinesia, and related conditions are remanded due to incomplete adjudication. Bilateral knee disabilities and schizophrenia are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and an acquired psychiatric disability are denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury. The claims for service connection for bilateral ankle disability, back disability (claimed as arthritis all over), and bilateral shoulder disability are remanded due to lack of evidence of current disabilities. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) is also remanded.

The Veteran's request for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions were denied. SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person was granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of consideration of the Veteran's claim for service connection based on an in-service personal assault, specifically a physical altercation with a drill sergeant during basic training.

The claim to reopen the issue of service connection for lung disease, to include asthma and COPD, is denied. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, major depressive disorder, and panic disorder.