Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, paranoid schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. This includes obtaining VA treatment records, verifying in-service stressors, and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, urticaria (claimed as rash on back, neck, and arms), eye disability (allergic conjunctivitis/dry eyes), and acquired psychiatric disorder (bipolar disorder/ depression) are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left leg radiculopathy is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability and chronic headache. The original denial of these claims is now considered on their merits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression and obsessive compulsive disorder) due to a lack of evidence showing in-service occurrence or continuity of symptomatology related to these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a psychiatric examination to determine the etiology of any current psychiatric disorder. The issues on appeal include service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right ankle condition, left ankle condition, right foot condition, left foot condition, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for right rotator cuff tendonitis with moderate impingement.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and granted service connection based on new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizoaffective disorder, paranoid schizophrenia, and depressive disorder, not otherwise specified (NOS), is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for a right leg disability examination and review of claims regarding service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for further development and consideration of his claims for service connection for PTSD, acquired psychiatric disability, and tinnitus. The AOJ must obtain all pertinent records from VA facilities and attempt to reschedule the Veteran for VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link between the claimed in-service stressors and his symptoms.

The Veteran's schizophrenia is related to his active duty service and the claim for service connection has been granted.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The VA medical opinions were consistent in concluding that the Veteran has no current psychiatric diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to issues related to service connection and effective dates.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 20, 2009 for service connection of acquired psychiatric disorder is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding that VA should have broadly interpreted her PTSD claim.,The Veteran's neuropathy of the lower extremities warrants a rating of 20 percent based on moderate incomplete paralysis in both legs.,For the low back disorder, the Veteran's symptoms warrant an evaluation of 40 percent under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas beginning July 29, 2012. A higher initial rating is granted for the period through June 11, 2014, and a 70 percent rating is assigned for the period beginning June 12, 2014.

The VA denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and a sleep disorder. The VA found that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address service connection claims for a low back disability and variously diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and MDD. The Veteran's accounts of stressors in service will be verified, and medical opinions will be obtained regarding the etiology of his disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The claims related to bronchial asthma and sleep apnea are still pending.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, left ankle sprain, bilateral hearing loss, and sleep disturbance are all found to be related to service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.