Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been granted. The claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and hepatitis C are pending.

The Veteran's claims for depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, psychosis, and PTSD have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. However, service connection has not yet been established for any condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a video conference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues are whether an earlier effective date can be granted for PTSD with schizophrenia, and whether he is entitled to SMC based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that the preponderance of evidence was against the claim prior to March 20, 2007.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia did not contribute to his death from hypertensive cardiovascular disease, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability has been reopened and granted. The right index finger amputation is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, did not clearly and unmistakably exist prior to service and was not otherwise related to his active service. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was incurred in service and is presumed to be related. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence supports his claim for service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD related to his service, and thus cannot establish service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include insomnia disorder and persistent moderate somatic symptom disorder, is currently rated at 50 percent. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher rating have been met.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate addendum opinions from the VA examiner.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder have been reopened, but the evidence does not support a grant of these benefits.,Claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings for left shoulder disability and PFB are denied as a matter of law.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, related to his active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hemorrhoids, arthritis of the hands and cervical spine and side-effects of medicine (formerly claimed as osteopathic conditions and side-effects of medicine), diverticulitis, herniated esophagus, bilateral cataracts, presbyopia, and thin spots in the retina, hepatitis, umbilical and groin hernias, impotence, allergies, neurological bladder disease, edema of the lower extremities, residuals of a head injury, sexually transmitted disease, residuals of a throat trauma, hypothyroidism, memory loss, benign prostatic hypertrophy. The Veteran's currently diagnosed bipolar disorder and anxiety disorder not otherwise specified are etiologically related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before the RO. The issues include pension, service connection for psychiatric disorder, fatigue, digestive condition, and diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's fragment wound to the face and right eye, as well as his acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), are related to his service. The claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other mental disorder, and therefore service connection for a psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and for degenerative changes of the cervical spine. The evidence received since September 2007 does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.