Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability, was denied by the Board. The evidence did not establish that he had a current psychiatric disorder or that it was related to his military service.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and granted a 50% disability rating for degenerative joint disease of the left ring finger, effective from July 2010.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease has been rated at 60 percent since March 25, 2014. The appeal is granted for this issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is service-connected, and his claim for a psychiatric disorder was granted based on new evidence. The effective date of these decisions will be determined by VA.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have onset during service and has continued since, warranting service connection. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD have been denied as there is no competent evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's diabetes, renal failure, diabetic retinopathy, and related complications are service connected. His bipolar disorder is also service connected as secondary to his diabetes. Service connection for prostate cancer cannot be established due to lack of evidence of herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran, and the appeal is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected schizophrenia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus warrants a 20 percent evaluation, as he is not restricted in his activities due to this condition. Other claims for service connection and evaluations have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and adjudication of service connection and increased rating claims. The TDIU rating issue will be deferred until those claims are resolved.

The Veteran's PTSD claim was denied, and his anxiety and depressive disorder NOS were granted. His diabetes mellitus rating remains at 20%.

The Veteran's schizophrenia was not shown to have onset during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence that it was aggravated by service. The claim for service connection for schizophrenia is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a psychiatric disorder, to include bipolar disorder, are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records. The issues of service connection will be reconsidered after these records have been obtained.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disability is denied. The Board has also remanded the issues of rating excess of 10 percent for residuals of right and left wrist fractures due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted service connection on a presumptive basis due to his Vietnam-era exposure. Service connection for hypertension and a psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are also granted as these conditions are related to the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's disability rating for his psychiatric condition was reduced from 100% to 70%, but the Board found this reduction improper and restored the 100% rating effective January 1, 1982.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, had its onset during service and is related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran did not engage in combat and his claimed stressor has not been independently verified. The preponderance of evidence is against finding a current disability related to service.