Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2016

The Veteran's application for Service Disabled Veterans Insurance (SDVI/RH) was found to be timely filed, as he had been incompetent to manage his affairs due to schizophrenia. The eligibility for SDVI/RH benefits is considered based on the Veteran's service-connected disability and overall health.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include schizophrenia, needs additional development and is therefore being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, residuals of a fracture of the left fifth toe, and chloracne. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not presented.,Prostate cancer claim was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anemia was denied. The claim for service connection for visual changes as due to herbicide exposure is granted based on new evidence received since the last denial. Service connection for a lung disorder (non-small cell lung cancer) is granted due to presumed exposure during service in Vietnam. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder with depressed mood) is granted as secondary to a service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not competent to handle disbursement of VA funds due to his mental illness and lack of insight.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was granted. The issue of TDIU is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, and he was assigned a 30 percent rating for his vertigo as of November 27, 2006. The issues of increased initial ratings for TBI-related disabilities and entitlement to TDIU are also addressed.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's right foot disorder, including a chronic foot strain and plantar fasciitis, was incurred in service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence supports this finding.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a higher rating for residuals of squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx. The claim for TDIU due to residuals of small bowel resection associated with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is also addressed in the remand.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and for right hemicolectomy. The evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric condition related to service. The claim for right hemicolectomy was also denied as new and material evidence had not been received.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing Social Security Administration (SSA) records and outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for herpes and a psychiatric disorder including depression is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. He is found to have current diagnoses of herpes, residuals of a right hand injury, residuals of a head injury (including PTSD), and tinnitus that are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is found to be the primary cause of his chronic atypical headaches, and thus service connection for such is granted.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders (other than PTSD) were related to his childhood abuse and drug use, which did not increase in severity during service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have PTSD and his psychiatric disability was not incurred in service. The preponderance of evidence shows no causal relationship between the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to secure records related to a motor vehicle accident during active duty training and to determine if it caused the appellant's current psychiatric condition. The claim will be readjudicated after these developments.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for type II diabetes mellitus from January 13, 2010 is granted and set at 20 percent. The claims for service connection for necrobiosis of the feet, hypertension, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete development, including obtaining records from SSA and VA, verifying periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA), and providing additional opinions regarding service connection.