Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2014

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and granted it. The Veteran's statements regarding the onset of his adjustment disorder with mixed emotions symptoms are credible, and he is now entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Board found no evidence of a combat-related stressor and the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are not etiologically related to his active service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals in September 2014, leaving no issues for the Board to decide.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for Schizophrenia is granted, and his claim to reopen a right leg bony growth is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to a scheduling error and the Veteran's failure to appear for his scheduled Travel Board hearing. The issues of service connection for lumbar spine disability, bilateral leg disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder are still pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a Board hearing and the need to issue a statement of the case on two issues.

The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and therefore denied service connection for PTSD. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including sleep apnea as secondary to such disorders, is also addressed.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disorders did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD or an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD related to service. A personality disorder is also not a disease or injury within the meaning of VA regulations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for restless leg syndrome, psychiatric disorder, sleep disturbance, headaches, hypothyroidism, and Epstein-Barr virus on the basis of presumptive service connection under the provisions for Veterans of the Persian Gulf War. The appeals were not granted.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and there is no evidence linking his currently diagnosed bipolar disorder to service. The preponderance of the evidence supports the denial of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including consideration of a VA medical opinion. The claim will be reconsidered after all evidence is addressed.

The Board has established service connection for bilateral pes planus and granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that new and material evidence had been submitted. The decision also addressed the issue of whether there was a relationship between the Veteran's foot problems and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed psychiatric disorder, and therefore service connection for such is denied. The claim for service connection of a back disability was remanded but remains pending.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability has been granted service connection and rated at 20 percent effective November 25, 2008. The other issues have not been resolved.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the lower back pain, cervical spine condition, and hypertension claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a skin condition (folliculitis), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were all denied. The VA examiner found no evidence of current disabilities related to the conditions in question.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The Board also found conflicting statements from the Veteran regarding his current symptoms.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current hearing loss disability is manifested by an exceptional pattern of hearing loss in the left ear resulting in a Roman Numeral VIII, while his right ear hearing loss resulted in a Roman Number IV at worst.