Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia and hypertension do not meet the criteria for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status due to his inability to care for most of his daily personal needs without assistance.

The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD and determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) did not have its onset during service. The VA examiners concluded there was no resulting impairment from in-service stressors, thus denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. For bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, the Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case for a videoconference hearing at the Chicago, Illinois RO due to scheduling issues. The appellant's claim regarding reopening his service connection for emotional instability and other acquired psychiatric disorders remains pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection in part, finding that there was no pending claim prior to February 27, 2009, and thus any effective date earlier than March 5, 2009 is not warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD. Updated VA treatment records are also needed.

The Veteran's son, WBB, became permanently incapable of self-support before reaching the age of 18 due to a pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and autism. The Board found that he qualifies as a helpless child for VA purposes.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD. The Veteran's current symptoms are believed to be related to military sexual trauma.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for an increased rating for sleep apnea, and the issues of reopening a claim for service connection for a heart condition, service connection for hypertensive retinopathy as secondary to hypertension, and entitlement to TDIU were also denied.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to be related to his service in Vietnam, including his presence on the landmass of Vietnam. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for service connection under the presumption of herbicide exposure.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and headaches are not addressed as they were remanded by the Board.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service and granted entitlement to service connection for this condition. The psychiatric disability claim, specifically PTSD, remains pending as additional development is required.

The Board found that the appellant's current psychiatric disorders did not start during his military service and are not related to any in-service events. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for schizophrenia and also denied his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) as he is not currently service connected for any disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple conditions, including headaches, COPD and Pickwickian syndrome, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, arthritis of the neck, arthritis of the legs (claimed as knees), arthritis of the back, arthritis of the shoulders, an acquired psychiatric disorder, chronic liver disease, and a heart condition. The claims were denied based on lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, dizziness and vertigo, a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss prior to June 20, 2011, and entitlement to TDIU. The Veteran's claim for increased rating of his hearing loss was also denied.

The Veteran's duodenal ulcer is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum rating available under the applicable diagnostic code. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a more severe disability level.

The Board found that the appellant's claimed conditions of hypertension, a psychiatric disability, headaches, and memory loss did not have their onset during any period of service or were caused by events in any period of service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Board has determined that the earliest date of a formal claim for service connection was March 8, 2011. Therefore, an effective date of January 5, 2009 is granted as the date of claim.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for a respiratory disorder, chronic pain syndrome, and a headache disorder due to additional development. The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any complaints or diagnoses related to these conditions. His current symptoms are attributed to his own statements.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's need for aid and attendance based on his service-connected schizophrenia and PTSD. The VA is instructed to schedule a new examination to determine if these conditions result in regular need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his incarceration and failure to appear for a Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.