Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to service connection for thyroiditis and tinnitus, but his bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder are granted. The Veteran's sinusitis claim requires additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient medical opinions and need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and remanded the issues of higher ratings for left hand, thigh gunshot wounds, and neurological residuals. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board found no current psychiatric disability and denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder.,There is no current diagnosis of nervous twitching, and the Veteran's statements were not supported by objective findings during VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development including scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is related to his service. The claim will be reconsidered after the additional development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for post-operative residuals of mandibular prognathism and malocclusion, claimed as scars of the face and neck. The Veteran testified during his July 2017 Travel Board hearing that he experienced symptoms such as painful, itchy scars on his face and neck, a burning sensation, and choking sensations since his in-service surgery to correct his mandibular prognathism and malocclusion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than January 31, 2007 for the grant of service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The Veteran was previously rated for insomnia and PTSD together since June 25, 1994 (the day following his separation from active duty). Effective January 31, 2007, the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting psychiatric disability, including schizoaffective disorder and paranoid schizophrenia, did not increase in severity during his period of active duty service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum VA opinion to determine when each of the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities first manifested, including depression, anxiety disorder, and schizophrenia NOS. The effective date for service connection will be determined based on this new information.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and sleeping disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, is related to his service in Korea. The claim for PTSD was denied as there was no evidence of stressors, but the diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder had its initial onset during active duty service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and headache disorder have not been shown to warrant a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, left knee, right leg, cervical spine, and psychiatric disorders. The claim for service connection for a lung disorder is also granted. The Veteran's psychiatric disorder is found to be secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's injuries, including his lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, residuals of a fractured skull, traumatic brain injury, headaches, vertigo, neurological condition affecting bilateral lower extremities (claimed as pain and muscle spasms), neuropathy of upper extremities, and acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) are due to his own willful misconduct. As such, these claims for service connection are denied.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, DM, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Veteran's exposure to herbicides is presumed but not applicable to these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and providing a supplemental VA opinion regarding her claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board is remanding the case due to the need for additional records from SSA and VA, as well as any relevant private treatment records. The claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board found no credible evidence of the Veteran's claimed military sexual assault, and thus denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD, and service connection for depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia is also denied as there is no evidence of these conditions in service.