Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus type II due to herbicide exposure, and glaucoma as secondary to diabetes are all denied. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure in the Republic of Vietnam and thus could not grant presumptive service connection based on Agent Orange exposure. Diabetes was not present during service or within one year after discharge, and there is no medical evidence linking it to service. Glaucoma was also not shown to be related to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for partial left femoral nerve injury and tinnitus, finding that these conditions were not the result of the Veteran's willful misconduct. The other issues related to service connection have been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied service connection for schizophrenia, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the Veteran's request for a hearing and his desire to obtain private medical records before having his claim readjudicated.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder is not shown to have manifested during service or for many years thereafter, and there is no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. Service connection was also denied for a skin disorder, low back disorder, sleep disorder, stomach disorder, penis deformity, prostate disorder, and heart disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims file and a new VA opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran likely developed multilevel cervical spine DDD while in service, and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition based on a presumption of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including review of service personnel records and a new examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia remains pending.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical records and service personnel records, as well as to determine if new evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for undifferentiated schizophrenia.

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

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and his other diagnosed conditions do not permanently preclude him from engaging in all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a finding of disability as defined by VA regulation. Therefore, service connection for hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for dental trauma or an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The evidence did not establish a diagnosis of PTSD based on a verified in-service stressor and there is no medical evidence showing a direct relationship between his current psychiatric disorders and military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service treatment records and additional development is needed before the claims can be decided on the merits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination. The issues of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetic retinopathy are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD, incurred in service. The Veteran's claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and chronic paranoid schizophrenia, is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and review of SSA records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, inguinal hernia, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and a depressive psychiatric disorder.