Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2016

The RO reduced the disability rating for prostate cancer from 100 percent to 40 percent, effective December 1, 2012. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include a residual shrapnel wound to the scalp with scar and substernal chest and right upper thigh scars.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a video conference hearing.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, lumbar spine disorder, left knee disorder, right foot disorder, and left foot disorder have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD related to his in-service stressor and established a nexus between this stressor and his current symptoms.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a low back disability, psychiatric disability, or hypertension that were incurred during his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus and dismissed the pending appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of tinnitus. The Veteran withdrew his claim for a higher rating for tinnitus at his hearing before the Board in December 2015.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a breathing disorder due to potential new evidence and need for additional development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is found to be caused at least in part by his hepatitis B, which he contracted as a result of negligent administration of a colonoscopy. As the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether this condition is caused by hepatitis B, and given the Veteran's service connection for hepatitis B, compensation for an acquired psychiatric disability secondary to hepatitis B is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, PTSD, anxiety and depression is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral foot disability, diagnosed as chronic strain with bursitis, originated during his active service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a service-connected psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and thus denied his claim for accrued benefits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development and examination, including an assessment of whether any current left shoulder disability or psychiatric disorder is related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to his death. The Board finds that the nonservice-connected conditions (COPD and colostomy) were more significant in preventing employment.

The Veteran's paranoid schizophrenia has resulted in total social and occupational impairment beginning September 27, 2013. As a result of this finding, the issue of entitlement to a Total Disability Rating for Compensation Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is moot.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam and the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that his current disabilities are related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia, paranoid type was granted with an effective date of March 18, 2010.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, gastrointestinal disorder, chronic headaches, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left hip disorder, and left hip scar have been granted.,Service connection has also been established for erectile dysfunction as secondary to the cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae, sleep apnea (as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder), bilateral hearing loss, and acquired psychiatric disorder were all granted service connection. The Veteran was assigned a noncompensable disability rating for his bilateral hearing loss and is entitled to an initial schedular rating of 30 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a back disorder, right and left knee disorders, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD. The decision also addressed other issues such as increased ratings for foot disabilities and entitlement to additional compensation benefits for dependent sons.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, DM, and PTSD. The Veteran's current conditions are presumed to be associated with his exposure to herbicide agents during service in the Republic of Vietnam.