Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2015

The Veteran seeks service connection for a psychiatric disorder and seventh cranial neuritis, alleging exposure to cellulube during service. The Board finds additional development is needed due to missing VA treatment records and requires new examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing, and the appeal is pending further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a new examination to address the nature and severity of his ankylosing spondylitis with erosive sacroiliitis and resultant loss of range of motion of the lumbar spine. The left shoulder disability will also be examined.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims can be fully adjudicated, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a medical examination for the Veteran's psychiatric disability. The issues of an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have verified service or visitation within the territorial confines of the Republic of Vietnam, and there is no evidence to support his claim of exposure to chemical herbicide agents. Therefore, service connection for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus cannot be granted based on presumptive exposure. The claim for PTSD will be addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his hearing loss, tinnitus, and psychiatric disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for residuals of dislocated toes of the right foot in May 1983. The current decision denies reopening this claim.,Service connection for a back disability was not addressed, and the Veteran did not provide evidence to reopen his previous denial.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's preexisting right knee disability was aggravated by his active duty service. The psychiatric claim is being remanded due to lack of complete medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA psychiatric examination and opinion to determine if any current psychiatric disorder is related to service, including claimed stressors consistent with the Veteran's Vietnam service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a chronic jaw disability, Q fever, osteoarthritis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal at a hearing on April 16, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a speech impediment are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Veteran's left ankle disorder is not related to service. The VA examiner found no evidence that the current left foot-ankle disorder relates to his in-service injury.

The Veteran's death by suicide was not caused or contributed substantially to his cause of death by any service-connected disability. The appellant's application for accrued benefits is denied as it was filed outside the one-year deadline after the Veteran's death. The claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and death pension are also denied.

The Veteran's bladder cancer is not service connected. The cause of death due to sepsis and bladder cancer was not attributed to his service-connected psychiatric disorder, schizophrenia, or right shoulder dislocation and acromioclavicular separation. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent prior to August 3, 2010, for a psychiatric disorder. DIC benefits were denied as the cause of death was not attributed to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's representative was not provided the opportunity to review the claims file and submit documents prior to the issuance of the decision.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The RO granted service connection for familial spastic paraplegia in December 2009 and severed it from the Veteran's record effective January 1, 2012 due to clear and unmistakable error.,The RO denied reopening of claims for PTSD and a right foot disability based on lack of new evidence within one year.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, has been denied. His claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are pending as the VA has not provided a medical opinion regarding their etiology. The Veteran's bladder cancer claim is also pending.

The Veteran's appeals on reopening claims for low back, right knee, and psychiatric disabilities were dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.