Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claim for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia has been reopened, but the Board finds that there is no credible evidence of an in-service onset or link to current symptoms. The claim for PTSD and schizophrenia remains denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of an effective date earlier than December 7, 2016 for the grant of a 100 percent disability evaluation for an acquired psychiatric disorder, entitlement to service connection for a stomach disorder, and entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for schizophrenia, undifferentiated type was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU based on service-connected disability was also denied as he had sufficient non-service-connected disabilities to prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric, right knee, bilateral hip, and back disorders are not service-connected. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, prostate cancer, and a disability characterized by generalized body pain to include gout. The TDIU claim is also addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his claimed conditions are not attributable to service. The VA examinations and medical opinions provided no evidence linking the current conditions to service.

The Veteran's left knee strain is not related to military service, and the Board finds that service connection for a left knee condition is denied.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the current nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD, is granted as service connected due to a confirmed in-service stressor related to combat in the Vietnam War.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, coronary artery disease, and an acquired psychiatric disability (severe psychotic depression and/or posttraumatic stress disorder) due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded as it was not addressed in the decision.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for a nervous condition and has granted service connection for schizophrenia, finding that new evidence was received and that the Veteran's schizophrenia manifested within one year of separation from service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD due to new evidence showing a current psychiatric disorder. However, the evidence does not establish that the Veteran currently suffers from PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, while his acquired psychiatric disability is not shown to be due to service. As a result, these claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence does not exist to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection of Schizophrenia. The Board also found that there is no causal relationship between the current disability (Schizophrenia) and any in-service disease or injury, thus denying the Veteran's claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disorder or memory impairment, and these conditions are not related to his military service. The claims for service connection for headaches and a psychiatric disorder including memory impairment are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations in the original decision. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current acquired psychiatric disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder and depressive disorder, as well as hypertension.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed PTSD stressor was not credible and denied service connection for PTSD. The acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, is also denied as there is no direct evidence linking it to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to Project SHAD test agents, which is necessary to decide his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, cervical spine disability, and acquired psychiatric disability are all service-connected.