Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has reopened the claim and found new evidence sufficient to establish a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, but denied service connection due to lack of a current disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to new evidence suggesting an increase in severity of the Veteran's service-connected residuals of meningococcal meningitis, and because VA treatment records dated since December 2014 have not been obtained.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death during the appeal process.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeals for the claims of service connection for an eye disability, bladder disability, loss of sense of smell, and loss of sense of taste. The Board dismissed these issues as a result.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left forearm disability and remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, anxiety and depressive disorder).

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of tremors and has denied service connection for this condition. The issues of service connection for cervical spine stenosis, cervical radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than depressive disorder (including PTSD and Adjustment Disorder), degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with bilateral radiculopathy, a disability rating in excess of 20 percent prior to April 28, 2010, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar radiculopathy of the left leg, a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar radiculopathy of the right leg, and an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for depressive disorder are all remanded due to incomplete or unclear evidence.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a right hip disability and granted a 30 percent rating for allergic rhinitis with hypertrophic turbinates. The claims for service connection for left hip disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression), osteoarthritis and limitation of flexion of the right knee, osteoarthritis and limitation of motion of the left knee, and intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine are all remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia and set an effective date of May 2, 1997.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's private records and lay statements indicate a current diagnosis of PTSD, but prior examination was conducted using DSM-IV criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including hepatitis C and its secondary effects. The rating for hemorrhoids was also denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a heart disability and a psychiatric disorder have been denied as the evidence does not support a causal relationship to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete information and need for further examination. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after obtaining all relevant records, including private treatment records and a psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent, the maximum rating allowed under Diagnostic Code 8100.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (claimed as anxiety/nervous disorder) is granted with a retroactive effective date of August 27, 2009. However, the Veteran's claim for service connection for this condition must be remanded to obtain additional records and address the issue of whether he timely filed an appeal.

The appeal to reopen a service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The Veteran's statements as to his hearing problems upon service discharge and continuing after service are presumed credible, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete STRs and outstanding VA treatment records. Additionally, a Gulf War Protocol examination is needed to determine if his conditions are related to active service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the need for additional examinations and treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and anxiety) due to incomplete service treatment records. The VA will attempt to verify the Veteran’s periods of active duty for training and inactive duty for training, obtain his complete service treatment records, and provide a new opinion on whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence indicating that his acquired psychiatric disorder or PTSD is related to his service. The new medical evidence of record does not show a link between the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and his service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the Veteran's claims, including obtaining additional service records and a retrospective medical opinion. The effective date of service connection for PTSD is also being remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for left foot and right foot disabilities, as well as an acquired psychiatric disability. The case is being remanded to obtain additional information regarding the Veteran's alleged stressor and to provide a VA examination.