Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The May 1975 rating decision granted service connection for bipolar disorder (formerly schizophrenia) and assigned a 30 percent disability rating, effective April 11, 1975. The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in this determination.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The claim for tinnitus is also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder and mood disorder, are not related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service onset or a link between current conditions and service.

The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and providing a VA examination to assess the Veteran's ability to work due to his service-connected disabilities. The AOJ will also consider private treatment records and other evidence.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including insomnia and depression, is related to his service-connected degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims were denied across multiple issues, including service connection for various conditions and ratings for existing disabilities. The appeals are not about service connection at all.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied as there is no credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors.,Service connection for elevated liver enzymes (claimed as idiopathic liver disease) was not granted due to lack of a current diagnosis and no evidence linking the condition to service.,The Veteran's hypertension was found to be manifested by blood pressure readings of 150 systolic and 95 diastolic, which do not meet criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7101.,For pseudofolliculitis barbae with facial scars, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a 50% evaluation as there was no visible or palpable tissue loss and asymmetry of two features or paired sets of features.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is service-connected, and he is entitled to special monthly compensation for loss of use of a creative organ due to erectile dysfunction.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder) is not service-connected.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which he claims is related to his right eye injury. The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether the psychiatric disorder was aggravated by his service-connected right eye disability.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and mood disorder, is granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is also granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional information and for further examination regarding his claimed acquired psychiatric disorder and pes planus.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding VA treatment records and requested ship's history of the USS Scorpion.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed adjustment disorder, NOS (not otherwise specified) is less likely than not related to the conceded stressor of fear of hostile military or terrorist activity. Other recorded psychiatric disorders have not been shown to be related to in-service occurrence or event.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, and gastrointestinal disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical opinions and VA examinations.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disorders are related to his military service, but the bilateral knee and foot conditions may not be. The acquired psychiatric disorder is also related to service.,The Veteran has a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder (schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type with psychotic symptoms) that likely had its onset during or is otherwise related to his period of active duty from 1973 to 1979.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for flat feet, hypertension, and an acquired mental disorder other than PTSD. The claim for alcoholism due to an acquired mental disorder other than PTSD is being remanded.

The Board has reopened the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder but denied service connection. The Veteran's hypertension remains at a noncompensable rating prior to August 29, 2016 and 10 percent thereafter. The left knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development on issues including service connection for a low back disability, increased ratings for knee and ankle disabilities, and psychiatric disability. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU, effective December 2, 2010. The attorney's fees were properly withheld as per the signed fee agreement.