Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2014

The Veteran's case is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess his psychiatric disorders and determine their relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and his acquired psychiatric disorder did not begin during service. Additionally, hypertension is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran seeks to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Board will need to obtain any outstanding treatment records from the Portsmouth VA CBOC and review them in order to determine if new and material evidence has been received.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address his claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for a sleep disorder and an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board denied service connection for a gynecological disorder, hypertension, and a psychiatric disorder (depression) as the evidence did not show these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and residuals of a subarachnoid brain hemorrhage, finding no current disability and insufficient evidence to establish a link between any diagnosed conditions and active service.

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 including a VA examination and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for hearing loss was denied, and the Board found that his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) did not meet the criteria for a separate disability evaluation. The lung condition and kidney disease claims were remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's paranoid schizophrenia disability did not become manifest during or as a result of his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia, finding that his condition was not aggravated during his active duty and had pre-existed his service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder other than cannabis abuse. Bilateral hearing loss was also denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, left ulnar neuropathy, skin disability, and bilateral eye disability have been denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions.,Service connection was not granted because the Veteran did not serve in combat and posttraumatic stress disorder has not been diagnosed. The psychiatric disorder other than posttraumatic stress disorder, namely depression, was not present in service and is unrelated to any injury, disease, or event in service.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, but he was in receipt of VA compensation benefits at the time of his death. The appellant is granted VA burial benefits as she paid for the funeral expenses and the Veteran was not buried in a national cemetery.

The Veteran's tinea pedis is rated at 10 percent, but no higher. The claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including obesity, hypertension, chest pain, foot fungus, eye disability, and tinnitus. The Veteran will also be provided a statement of the case regarding an increased rating for gout.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his service separation examination, verifying inservice stressors, and scheduling VA examinations to determine the current severity of his migraine headaches and any claimed psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his left sternoclavicle disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show limitation of motion to 25 degrees or less from the side, even with consideration of pain and other functional impacts.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for schizophrenia, but it is unclear whether this will result in a grant or denial of service connection due to the complexity of the issues involved.

The Veteran developed dysfunction of the frontal lobes and hippocampus with neuropsychiatric damage as a result of VA treatment for pneumonia, but this disability was not reasonably foreseeable. The Board grants compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of a fractured left fibula was granted. The claim for service connection for bipolar disorder was reopened and granted. Service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, low back disability, and fractures of the left foot/toes were denied. Compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for left toe fractures was granted.