Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a broken eardrum was denied as there is no current evidence of residuals from the alleged injury. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, remains pending.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder has been characterized by depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. The initial rating of 30% for the period prior to November 21, 2007, was granted; a higher rating of 50% is now granted from that date. For the period beginning May 27, 2009, the Veteran's psychiatric disorder has been characterized by persistent depression and suicidal ideation, leading to a grant of a 70% initial disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining missing VA treatment records and any relevant Korean treatment records. The case will be readjudicated after these efforts.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss in his left ear, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of all four extremities, hypertension, and a skin condition. The decision also addressed issues related to PTSD, allergic rhinitis, and lower back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military service. The claims were previously denied due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to procedural issues and the need to provide notification regarding alternative means of proving a personal assault stressor.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and for an initial compensable evaluation for a scar of the right eyebrow were denied. The claim for TDIU was also not warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran does not have PTSD and his acquired psychiatric disability, depressive disorder NOS, is not related to service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence shows that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is not related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including paranoid schizophrenia. The issue is now on its merits.

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

The Board has determined that the VA examination and opinion obtained in this case is not adequate due to reliance on unverified self-reported history of stressors. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, will be remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, including bilateral hearing loss, right and left foot disabilities, ulcers, hypertension, bilateral shoulder disability, PTSD, or an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence is insufficient to establish a nexus between any of these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was withdrawn by the Veteran prior to a decision being made.,Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including depression, as it is linked to military service.,New and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disability. The claim is therefore reopened.,Service connection is granted for a back disability as it was incurred in military service.,The Veteran's lung disability claim is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration records. The Veteran's psychiatric disability claims will be evaluated with a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to service and have denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination and obtaining relevant medical records. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD remains on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to clarify whether the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder with PTSD features, has been rated at 70 percent since January 24, 2011. The TDIU benefit was also granted effective from that date.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active military service or periods of ACDUTRA/INACDUTRA.