Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2013

Service connection for a psychiatric disorder (paranoid schizophrenia) has been granted.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of right sternoclavicular strain from April 3, 1992 to July 25, 1999 is denied.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of cervical spine injury from March 22, 1993 to October 28, 1998 has been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The claim for a left ankle disability was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee chondromalacia patella, left knee effusion, and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The Veteran's lumbar strain/myositis, left shoulder degenerative joint disease with impingement, and plantar fascia fibromatosis were all rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Board found that the evidence does not demonstrate an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and thus denied service connection for this condition. The other issues were also denied as there was no diagnosis of a current disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a bilateral eye disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and thus could not establish herbicide exposure. The claims for diabetes, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder were denied as there was no evidence of such conditions during service or within one year post-service.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than panic disorder without agoraphobia and PTSD, but to include depression. The initial disability ratings for chronic left shoulder dislocation and GERD were also denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes PTSD, major depression, and anxiety disorder. The Board also found that a cervical/gynecological condition is related to active military service, but did not find any evidence of a respiratory disease due to chemical exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD disability warrants a 100 percent evaluation, representing total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional medical opinions regarding service connection for psychiatric disability and erectile dysfunction, including consideration of secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inconsistencies in the medical records and need for additional evidence regarding the appellant's service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and reviewing the claims file by a mental disorders examiner. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on all additional evidence.

The Veteran's vertigo and acquired psychiatric disorder were found to have onset in service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and his acquired psychiatric disorder did not manifest in service or for many years thereafter and has not been shown to be causally related to his military service.

The Board found that there is no competent diagnosis of PTSD and the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, to include schizophrenia, was not shown during service or until years after service, and any diagnosed psychiatric disorder has not been related to any verified aspect of the Veteran's period of service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and psychiatric disability. The rating assigned is 10 percent, effective as of April 28, 1995.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected recurrent sinusitis, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea on a secondary basis.

The Board found no credible evidence of in-service stressors and denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's major depression was also not shown to be related to his service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and posttraumatic stress disorder. However, this evidence does not establish a nexus between any current psychiatric condition and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an eye disorder has been withdrawn. The Board finds no evidence of a current hearing loss disability under VA guidelines, thus denying the claim for bilateral hearing loss. Service connection is granted for tinnitus as it was incurred during active duty and continues to persist.