Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims will be adjudicated again based on this new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current vitiligo and left shin dermatitis were not manifest in service and are unrelated to service.,The Veteran's current psychiatric disability, including PTSD, was not manifest in service, is unrelated to service, and was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for schizophrenia and cervical spine disability, as well as his claim for TDIU, have been denied because he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and depression are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and the retrieval of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including investigating Private D.F.'s service record and scheduling a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder present at any time since May 2010.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. However, the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disability was not incurred in-service and is not related to his active service. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were also not incurred in-service, are not related to his active service, and did not manifest within one year after separation from active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and arteriosclerotic heart disease, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction and microalbuminuria was denied. His claim for service connection for hypertension, as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, was not established. The issue of service connection for PTSD is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability benefits records and VA treatment records.

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.