Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2012

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder including depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The Veteran's tinnitus is related to exposure to acoustic trauma in service, while his hearing loss does not meet the VA criteria for a disability. His psychiatric symptoms are attributed to alcohol abuse rather than service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional treatment records and to schedule VA examinations for his post-polio syndrome and pulmonary disorders. The claims will be reviewed after the additional development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The issue of whether new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim is resolved in favor of reopening. Service connection for PTSD remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the extent of hearing loss and the nature and likely etiology of any psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder secondary to his service-connected hearing loss is also on appeal.

The Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claims for psychiatric disorder and duodenal ulcer have been remanded. The Board also requested additional medical examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any current disorders.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of an in-service stressor event related to PTSD and consideration of alternative current conditions within the scope of the filed claim.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development including obtaining service personnel records, VA treatment records, Social Security Administration records, and a VA eye examination. The Veteran's claims for left eye disability and acquired psychiatric disability will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for further development due to outstanding VA treatment records and issues related to his claimed stressors. The claim will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently diagnosed psychiatric disorder. The RO must also address his entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus Type II and total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service connected disorders.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as anxiety disorder. However, the Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Board found that the September 20, 1962 rating decision denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of an acquired psychiatric disability due to service, and denied the claim. The back and headaches claims are also denied as there is no direct evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a comprehensive VA mental disorders examination to determine if the Veteran meets clinical criteria for PTSD and whether his symptoms are related to reported in-service stressors. The Veteran's full VA records from August 2006 forward should also be obtained.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran has any current psychiatric disorders related to service. The issue of cerebral vascular accident (stroke) secondary to ischemic heart disease is also inextricably intertwined with the appeal.

The Veteran's tinnitus is attributable to his noise exposure during active service and the Board has found that the evidence in favor of the claim is at least in equipoise with that against it. The claims for PTSD and peripheral neuropathy are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression and PTSD, is not established.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, as well as his claims for increased ratings for knee disabilities are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, PTSD, and mental disorders based on new evidence submitted since the last final denial.,The Veteran testified that he experienced stressors during service including being picked on, pushed, threatened, and intimidated. He also mentioned an altercation with another service member resulting in an Article 15.

The Board is remanding the Veteran's claims for further development, including verification of his service period and additional medical examinations to determine if he has an acquired psychiatric disorder or coronary artery disease that was incurred in or aggravated by service.