Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the Board remanded some of his claims due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was rated at 50% since November 6, 2012. The rating is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for further examination and development of records, including mental health treatment records. The claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA psychiatric and audiological examination.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that the Veteran currently has an acquired psychiatric condition, PTSD, or memory loss disability. The claims were denied.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine the likely etiology of any current acquired psychiatric disorder, including whether it is related to service and if substance abuse masked or was unrelated to the onset of psychiatric symptoms.

The Veteran's service connection claim for allergic rhinitis was denied, but he was granted service connection for his acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive type) as being secondary to his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and therefore service connection is denied.

The case is being remanded due to the possibility of missing VA treatment records from a fee-basis psychiatrist, Dr. R. G., that may still be in his possession and could provide information about the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability within one year prior to the filing of the claim for increased benefits on June 22, 2000.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and schizophrenia, is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD.,Service connection for the Veteran's claimed skin condition due to an undiagnosed illness during military service in the Gulf War is also denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and schizoaffective disorder, was incurred in service. Service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, a sleep disorder (claimed as sleep apnea), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression). The decision is based on the lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a video-conference hearing. The appeal will be returned to the AOJ after the hearing is conducted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of cervical spine strain and paranoid schizophrenia, but finds no current disability that can be related to service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is due to likely exposure to herbicides while visiting the Republic of Vietnam and a duty assignment along the perimeter of the base at Takhli, Thailand. Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, as secondary to herbicide exposure, has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD is pending, and his claim to reopen a previously denied PTSD claim has been granted. The Board will now review the evidence to determine if there is new and material evidence that can be used to support reopening of the PTSD claim.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder. The appellant's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, including paranoid schizophrenia and PTSD, will be remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability is related to his combat experiences during service. Service connection was also granted for a heart disability due to herbicide exposure (Gulf War Syndrome).

The Board denied service connection for headaches and a psychiatric disability in August 1986. The Veteran filed a claim to reopen in May 2009, when he was diagnosed with TBI. The effective date of the grant of service connection for TBI is set at May 15, 2009.