Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the appellant is not entitled to VA benefits for her child due to lack of qualifying active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the June 2015 decision, including a lack of discussion on depression and an inadequate March 2013 VA examiner's opinion. The Veteran is required to undergo another examination to determine if there is a superimposed disease or injury during service that resulted in disability apart from the personality disorder, and whether depression is related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric, low back, and left knee disabilities. The case is now before the AOJ for further review.

The Board denied all the issues on appeal, including service connection for various conditions and reopening of a claim related to migratory polyarthritis or Reiter's syndrome. The Veteran did not have diagnosed left knee, left ankle, psychiatric, or heart disorders.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are etiologically related to his active duty service and therefore denies the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was granted. The claims for increased ratings for the bilateral knees and for a sleep disorder were also granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining opinions from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's service connection claims and her substance abuse disorder. The issues of entitlement to service connection for psychiatric disabilities other than PTSD and right leg disability are still pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU, and the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that his service-connected conditions have rendered him incapable of obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his motor vehicle accident and acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's hearing loss is not compensable, but his schizophrenia, paranoid type, has been granted a 100% rating.,His TDIU claim is moot due to the grant of a 100% rating for his schizophrenia.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is denied. The low back disability has been rated at 20 percent, and the right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy has also been rated at 20 percent. The psychiatric disability has been rated at 50 percent. TDIU has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability has been rated at 70 percent since September 12, 2016. The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to verify his service in New York from September 11, 2001 through December 2001 and to obtain any outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran will also be scheduled for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any currently diagnosed sinus disability, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD).

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of a stress fracture of the left proximal tibia is dismissed as he did not file a timely appeal within one year from the date of notification of the decision.,The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen his claim for service connection for hepatitis C.

The Veteran's schizophrenia is rated at 50 percent since March 4, 1999. An earlier effective date for service connection and a dependency allowance are granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right leg thrombophlebitis, acquired psychiatric disorder (including bipolar disorder, PTSD, and depression), bronchitis, Hepatitis C, and a separate right leg disability. The claim for increased rating for neck disability is also denied as a matter of law.

The Board denied reopening the claim of entitlement to service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder and denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, finding that no new and material evidence had been received. The Veteran's preexisting gastrointestinal disorder was found not to be aggravated by active service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on the issues of service connection for a gastrointestinal disability and bilateral hearing loss. The psychiatric disorder claim is being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, an acquired psychiatric disability (depression, anxiety, PTSD), and hypertension have been denied as there is no evidence of a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hemorrhoids, as well as his reopenings of claims for acquired psychiatric disabilities, forehead lacerations, and right knee disabilities have been considered. The Board finds new and material evidence has been received to support these reopened claims.