Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2015

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus first manifested during active military service and granted service connection for this condition. However, it was determined that his bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during or as a result of active military service and denied service connection for this condition.

The Veteran is not competent to manage his VA compensation benefits due to mental health issues, and the Board finds that there is no reasonable doubt in this determination.

The Board has found that the Veteran's neck disability did not have its onset during active service or result from disease or injury in service, and arthritis did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a neck disability is denied.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional evidence, including records from the Arkansas Civil Court and National Guard service. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on all available information.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and found new and material evidence. The appeal is granted in this regard.

The Board found that the Veteran's current disabilities, including his head injuries and psychiatric conditions, are not etiologically related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a Social Security Administration (SSA) record. The Veteran needs to provide information about his mental health provider who stated that his condition is related to service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is denied as there is no credible evidence associating it with service.

The case is being remanded for further development, including determining the duties performed during the Veteran's ADSW service and obtaining VA treatment records. Additionally, a VA examination will be scheduled to assess the relationship between the Veteran's disabilities and his active service.

The Board is remanding the claims for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to incomplete records and need for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of his acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The claim for a higher initial evaluation for the acquired psychiatric disorder is denied, and the claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, verifying stressors for PTSD, scheduling a VA examination for hearing loss, prostate cancer, and psychiatric disorders, and ensuring all evidence is associated with the record.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with secondary depression, effective May 25, 2012. The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include anxiety and a personality disorder not otherwise specified have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The compensable rating claim for the surgical scar of his right knee was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and a sleep disorder have been denied as there is no evidence of such conditions in service or within the first post-service year, and they are not related to his service-connected gout.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for further evidentiary development, including a comprehensive VA examination.

The Board denied reopening the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia. The evidence received since the previous denial is not new and material.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a low back condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression). The loss of sense of taste and smell are also claimed as secondary to his service-connected mandible fracture residuals or due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.,The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. His claim is based on his combat experience in Vietnam.,The Veteran claims a loss of sense of taste and smell that he believes is related to his service-connected right ramus and mandible fracture or due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing records and further examination.