Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, clearly and unmistakably pre-existed his active service. The evidence also does not clearly and unmistakably show that in increase in the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was due to the natural progress of the disability. Therefore, the Veteran is granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and further development of the claim.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's alcohol abuse disorder with history of alcoholism is due to his voluntary use of alcohol, and therefore not a disability for which service connection may be granted.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not support a higher evaluation based on his audiometric test results.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death and no one has sought substitution.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current acquired psychiatric disorder related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his claims. The issues include service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, tremors secondary to medication used for a service-connected condition, and increased rating for lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed stressors and an inadequate VA medical opinion. The RO is instructed to attempt to corroborate the Veteran's alleged stressors, particularly those involving a runway crossing in Vietnam, and schedule him for a new VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's accounts of his duties as a firefighter in Guam are credible and whether he has a psychiatric disability related to such stressor event. The claim will be re-adjudicated after completion of the requested development.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection and psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current heart condition, psychiatric conditions, hernias, neck pain, bone spurs, and joint pain are not related to service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and acquired psychiatric disorder are related to service, with doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder. However, it denied her claims for service connection for bulimia/anorexia, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, fibrocystic breast disease, right lower leg nerve damage, sinusitis, and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance or at the housebound rate is being remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding his service-connected schizophrenia versus non-service-connected head injury.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the assignment of separate disability ratings for arthritis of the right and left feet was dismissed due to a finding of clear and unmistakable error. The RO reduced the two separate 10 percent ratings to one single 10 percent rating for bilateral foot arthritis, effective from November 1, 2013.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and headaches are all found to be secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The effective dates for the awards of service connection for these conditions have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a back disability has been withdrawn. The remaining claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss, foot disability, leg disability, sarcoidosis, migraine headaches, gynecological disability requiring hysterectomy, or back disability. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is also denied as there is no evidence of a psychosis within one year of separation from service and no continuity of symptomatology since then.

The Board denied service connection for CFS and remanded issues of service connection for various other conditions. The case is now being remanded again to provide a VA examination and address the intertwined issues.