Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2012

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including recurrent major depressive disorder associated with headaches due to head trauma, is now rated at 70 percent effective September 29, 2009.,Effective May 22, 2002, the Veteran's headaches are rated at 50 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected as it was incurred during his active military service, based on credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran is required to undergo further examination, review of new evidence, and readjudication.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and a skin disorder.,Both conditions are attributed to the Veteran's period of active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed stressors did not occur and there was no evidence to support his diagnosis of PTSD. As a result, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining official verification of the Veteran's friend's death and scheduling a VA examination to assess his acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of Meniere's disease, bilateral hearing loss, or an acquired psychiatric disorder that is related to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of a service-connected sleep impairment, including insomnia. The Veteran's reported symptoms were attributed to his diagnosed psychiatric and alcohol dependence disorders.,There is no evidence linking the bilateral upper and lower extremity numbness to Agent Orange exposure or any other presumptive basis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the effect of his schizophrenia on daily life and for additional development in connection with service connection claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD is not related to his active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia is rated at 70 percent from March 9, 1998 to November 1, 2007. An effective date of March 30, 2005 for the grant of total disability rating based on individual unemployability has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's injuries in a July 1958 automobile accident were not incurred in the line of duty due to his own willful misconduct. As such, service connection for PTSD, nasal injuries, and sinusitis is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine were denied. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability was found to be manifested by symptoms such as sleep difficulties, nightmares, intrusive thoughts or memories about military service, flashbacks, hypervigilance, anger, bouts of rage, depression, anxiety, paranoia, suicidal ideations, and homicidal ideations. His degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was manifested by pain that increased with changes in weather, causing sleeping difficulties but not radiating to his lower extremities.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depressive disorder and an adjustment disorder with a depressed mood. The headache disorder claim is remanded for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's vertigo and psychiatric disorder are not related to service, with the preponderance of evidence against a finding that they were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that there was no medical evidence attributing his current condition to any verified in-service stressful incident.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service, specifically an assault and witnessing a traumatic event during military service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, including bipolar disorder, are not related to service and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against finding that the Veteran has a low back disability, bronchitis, or sleep apnea disability that are etiologically related to service. The claims for these conditions were therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting a psychiatric examination to determine if he has an acquired psychiatric disorder related to service. Additionally, the claim for papillary cell carcinoma of the thyroid will be developed under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.311 due to its potential connection with ionizing radiation exposure.