Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD related to service stressors, and his respiratory condition (asthma) existed prior to service. The appeal for service connection for hemorrhoids was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is found to be etiologically related to his military service. The Board grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his service-connected left eye disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating or separate disfigurement rating, and he is not entitled to SMC based on loss of use of vision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine with associated right lower extremity radiculopathy was incurred in active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death was not caused or substantially contributed to by any service-connected disability, including his schizophrenia and dementia.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not receive notice of his scheduled VA examinations and hearing, which may have resulted in a lack of consideration of his claims. The case is being remanded to allow for rescheduling these missed appointments and readjudication.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD, and therefore service connection for PTSD is denied. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD will be considered on remand.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, lay statements from persons who had contact with the Veteran during his service on the USS Constellation CV-64, and a psychiatric examination to determine if his current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was denied as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition.

The Board has ordered additional development to verify the Veteran's allegations of sexual assault during service and to obtain his Social Security Administration records. The appeal is remanded for further adjudication.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and therefore denied service connection for PTSD. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, other than PTSD, is addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the etiology of his bilateral knee disabilities, hypertension, hearing loss disability, prostate disorder, and psychiatric disability.,The Veteran's hypertension is presumed service connected due to Agent Orange exposure. The VA will schedule him for a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not that his current hypertension is related to his military service or blood pressure readings in service.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability may be related to noise exposure during service, but the examiner should also consider whether any current hearing loss disability manifested within one year of separation from service. The VA will schedule him for a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not that his current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his military service.,The Veteran's prostate disorder may be due to Agent Orange exposure, but the examiner should also consider whether any other diagnosed prostate disorder is related to his military service. The VA will schedule him for a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not that he has a current prostate disorder and if so, whether such disorder is related to his military service.,The Veteran's psychiatric disability may be due to PTSD or another diagnosed psychiatric disorder. The VA will schedule him for a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not that any diagnosed psychiatric disorder is related to his military service.

The Veteran's undifferentiated-type schizophrenia has been shown to be productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood due to symptoms including a flattened affect; a depressed mood; disturbances of motivation and mood; chronic sleep impairment; impaired judgment; impaired abstract thinking; difficulty in understanding complex commands; persistent auditory and visual hallucinations and delusions; a persistent danger of hurting himself and others. The Board has granted a 100 percent schedular evaluation for the Veteran's undifferentiated-type schizophrenia for all relevant periods.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C. The case is REMANDED for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and opinions addressing the claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, hepatitis C, right leg disability, left leg disability, and pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The Veteran's basic eligibility criteria for nonservice-connected pension benefits have been met, and he is granted the award of nonservice-connected pension.

The Board found that the Veteran's headaches and depression are not causally or etiologically due to service, and are not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected seizure disability. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and his claims for service connection for tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a right index finger fracture are denied as there is no competent medical evidence showing such disabilities were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for residuals of a back injury due to new evidence. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.