Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as her claimed conditions are not shown to be related to her active duty or National Guard service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and coronary artery disease. The remaining issues have been denied.

The Board is remanding the case to allow the Veteran to provide a transcript of his hearing before the Board, as the audio recording was inaudible.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a bilateral ankle disability and a headache disorder have been withdrawn. The remaining issues of service connection are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and a psychosis may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for ingrown toenails, a back disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that his right ear hearing loss was not manifested during active duty, is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his active military service, and is not shown to have manifested within one year from the date of his separation from the military. His central nervous system disorder, including tremors and Parkinson's disease, is shown to be etiologically related to his active military service, to include in-service chemical exposure. However, his erectile dysfunction is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his active military service, to include in-service chemical exposure or herbicide exposure.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The examiner did not find any credible avoidant behavior or specific symptoms indicative of PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing at the RO due to scheduling issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disabilities, including schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, did not begin in service or are otherwise related to his military service. As a result, service connection for these conditions is denied. The claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was also denied as there is no service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service occurrence that would support the claims.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for schizophrenia is granted, as the evidence supports a diagnosis of PTSD related to his combat experience. The Board finds that the Veteran had a confirmed in-service stressor and medical evidence supports a link between the current symptomatology and the claimed in-service stressors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral hip and leg disability with arthritis, and acquired psychiatric disability including depression are not related to service or an incident of service origin.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD, major depression, panic disorder and social anxiety disorder is found to be incurred in service. His coronary artery disease is also found to be proximately due to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability. The Veteran meets the criteria for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to his service connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that there was no credible supporting evidence of a claimed in-service stressor.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, psychosis, depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and psychosis), and left knee disability. The evidence received since the prior final denial is sufficient to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including his Asperger's syndrome, was incurred during active service. The Board granted service connection for this condition based on the evidence showing an additional mental disorder developed superimposed on his existing personality disorder.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and prostate cancer. The Veteran's claim for prostate cancer was not established as it did not manifest within the first post-service year or be related to active duty.

The Board is remanding the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back disorder, and residuals of lacerations to the left index and ring fingers. The scar above the Veteran's left eye was noted during his military enlistment but did not permanently worsen during or as a result of his service.