Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a Travel Board hearing, which has been rescheduled. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no service connection decision could be made.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim of service connection for schizophrenia, which is presumed to have developed within a year of separation from service. The Veteran's current diagnosis of schizophrenia is considered likely related to his service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding that his lumbar degenerative joint and disc disease was rated appropriately at 20 percent. The issues of cervical spine, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities were also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, OCD, and GAD, have been granted a 50% evaluation prior to November 7, 2013. Since then, the Veteran continues to seek an increased evaluation for these conditions, which has not been met.

The Veteran was granted service connection for alcoholic neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities on December 28, 2004. Effective from that date, she is entitled to a rating higher than 30 percent for her left external popliteal nerve condition.,She also received separate ratings for each affected nerve: 20 percent for the musculocutaneous (superficial peroneal) nerve, 30 percent for the anterior tibial (deep peroneal) nerve, and 40 percent for the internal popliteal (tibial) nerve. She is also entitled to a separate 10 percent rating for her posterior tibial nerve condition.

The Veteran's appeal in the matter of service connection for liver melanoma is dismissed. The Board has remanded the remaining issues due to new evidence and additional development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's in-service stressors and whether he satisfies the DSM criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional medical examination and opinion regarding his claims of service connection for various conditions, including Schwannomatosis, neurofibromatosis, nerve damage in the arms, legs, and neck, residuals of a knee tumor, skin disability, an acquired psychiatric disability, and memory loss. The Veteran's exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune is being considered as part of his claims.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals in a letter dated May 2015.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for PTSD has been granted. The Board also found that the Veteran has tinnitus, but it is not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and verifying the Veteran's exposure to herbicides in Korea. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and psychiatric disabilities are also being considered.

The Veteran withdrew her claims of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a miscarriage, migraine headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disability (generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder) prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, was denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD that conforms to the DSM-IV criteria. The examiner found no evidence of a link between the claimed in-service stressors and the current symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service, including whether any preexisting personality disorders were aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, paranoid schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. This includes obtaining VA treatment records, verifying in-service stressors, and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, urticaria (claimed as rash on back, neck, and arms), eye disability (allergic conjunctivitis/dry eyes), and acquired psychiatric disorder (bipolar disorder/ depression) are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left leg radiculopathy is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability and chronic headache. The original denial of these claims is now considered on their merits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression and obsessive compulsive disorder) due to a lack of evidence showing in-service occurrence or continuity of symptomatology related to these conditions.