Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including providing the Veteran's attorney a copy of all adjudication performed and allowing time for response. The claim will be readjudicated after these steps are completed.

The Board has determined that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's back disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder are etiologically related to his service-connected left elbow and left shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a representation issue. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability was rated at 30 percent prior to September 29, 2013. As of September 29, 2013, the rating was increased to 50 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee instability, and right knee limitation of flexion has been granted. The TDIU issue is part of the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for burns to the hands, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a sleep disorder. The issues regarding back, right knee, right shoulder, left shoulder disorders, and left knee disorder were reconsidered but also denied on the merits.

The Board found that an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include adjustment disorder with mixed anxious and depressed mood, is etiologically related to the Veteran's military service. Fibromyalgia was not shown to be incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's lung cancer, presumed to be due to asbestos exposure during service, is granted for accrued benefits purposes.,The Veteran died of mesothelioma and lung cancer. The cause of death is considered service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disability present, as well as evaluations for degenerative arthritis of the right hip and lumbar spine, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The Board determined that there is no current diagnosis for a right knee disability, and the left knee injury during service did not result in chronic residuals. The Veteran's psychiatric symptoms were noted but no specific diagnoses of anxiety or insomnia were found.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's low back disorder, psychiatric disorders, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Fuchs' dystrophy and cataracts, sleep apnea, hypertension, migraines with hyperventilation and blackouts, psychiatric disorder (depression with anxiety symptoms), and keratoconus have been denied. The maximum rating of 30 percent has been assigned for migraines.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus has been granted. The claims of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and cardiac disorder have all been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing records and further review of the Veteran's claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, clearly and unmistakably pre-existed his active service. The evidence also does not clearly and unmistakably show that in increase in the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was due to the natural progress of the disability. Therefore, the Veteran is granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and further development of the claim.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's alcohol abuse disorder with history of alcoholism is due to his voluntary use of alcohol, and therefore not a disability for which service connection may be granted.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not support a higher evaluation based on his audiometric test results.