Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The Board has ordered further development to accurately calculate the appellant's countable income and unreimbursed medical expenses for the relevant period. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for further verification of a claimed in-service stressor event and for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and new and material evidence have been denied. The left wrist disability is not rated higher than 10 percent. Service connection for cold weather injuries, vision impairment, and an acquired psychiatric disability are not established. New and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury, including TBI and an acquired psychiatric disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss did not manifest in service, within the one year presumptive period or for many years thereafter, and is unrelated to any noise exposure during active duty service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a current psychiatric disability, likely PTSD or another acquired psychiatric condition. Service connection is also established for sleep apnea. The claim for cluster headaches remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's seizures and psychiatric disability, to include anxiety, depression, and PTSD, are not related to military service.

The Board has determined that service connection for schizophrenia is warranted, as the evidence shows a diagnosis of schizophrenia within one year after separation from service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining records from the Goldsboro Psychiatric Clinic. The issues on appeal are whether he is entitled to service connection for arthritis of the back and an acquired psychiatric disability secondary to his back condition.

The Board denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, back disorder, and neck disorder in March 1988. The Veteran's claims were reopened due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial.,Service connection was not established for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus as there is no evidence of a current disability within one year after service separation.

The Veteran's right ankle disorder is not shown to be related to service, and the Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim.,VA examination revealed no current right or left knee disability. The Veteran reported pain in service but there was no medical record documentation until 2011.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and paranoid schizophrenia. The diagnosis of personality disorder is not considered a disease or injury under VA compensation laws.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and a lower back disorder, finding that his current acquired psychiatric disorder did not meet diagnostic criteria and was not related to service. The decision also noted that he had an existing personality disorder but did not find it related to service.

The Board has scheduled a new Travel Board hearing for the appellant due to her absence at the previous hearing. The claim will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection of active psychosis (claimed as schizophrenia paranoid type, nervous condition, and bipolar disorder). The Veteran's preexisting mental condition was aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability was reopened and granted effective January 29, 2010.,Effective January 29, 2010, the Veteran is awarded a 10 percent rating for osteoarthritis with chondromalacia patella of both knees.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed as PTSD and depression, is related to his military service. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his military service. As such, the criteria for service connection are met.