Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2012

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability prior to April 28, 2010 due to service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining or retaining substantial gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU was withdrawn. The claims for PTSD, disabilities of the feet, and bilateral knee disabilities were denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or service connection due to lack of verified stressors. Service connection for major depression was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain relevant medical records and for a VA examination to address his claims of service connection for various conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for further development regarding his claimed stressors and combat experience.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining medical opinions and reviewing pertinent records.

The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for the service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, effective January 4, 2011, based on occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen claims for service connection for coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction, right bundle branch block, hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, and a psychiatric disability (PTSD and anxiety).

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting further examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including paranoid schizophrenia, is related to an injury during INACDUTRA. The low back disorder was not present in service or for many years thereafter and is not etiologically related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the evidence submitted since the April 2002 rating decision was not new and material, and thus did not reopen the claims for service connection for psychiatric disorder, cardiovascular disorder, and lung disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his active military service. The other conditions were either not shown to be present during service or are not considered disabling.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection must be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed psychiatric disability and sleep apnea. The case will be returned to the RO/AMC for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for consideration of new evidence submitted since his last decision, including VA treatment records and service hospital records. The claims will be readjudicated after any necessary development.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence showing a current disability. The claim is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD and his acquired psychiatric disorder is unrelated to service. Hypertension was also found to be unrelated to service or a disease of service origin.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, memory loss, and COPD were not found to be related to his active service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection of paranoid schizophrenia. The issue is now pending on its merits.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The appeal will be reconsidered after this additional review.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim as the appellant has passed away.