Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, conducting a VA examination, and providing an opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric and substance abuse disorders.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD was not incurred in service or caused by service, to include as due to military sexual trauma. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral leg disorders, an acquired psychiatric disorder (bipolar disorder and personality disorder), residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), Parkinson's disease, and microadenoma. The reasons are provided in the decision.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling VA examinations to address his psychiatric disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, and eye disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for bilateral pes planus, toe disorders, a right thigh disability, or a psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to bilateral hearing loss, and the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a current diagnosis under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether his acquired psychiatric disability, specifically depressive disorder, is related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, groin disability, acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression), and respiratory disability (COPD). The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but denied service connection for hypertension, heart disorder, sleep apnea, back disorder, diabetes, and hypogonadism all as the result of exposure to radar.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining records related to the Veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation during service and a VA examination to address his claims of service connection for prostate cancer as a radiogenic disease and an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainfully employment, and the Board grants a TDIU for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and acquired psychiatric disorder are all found to be related to service. The Veteran is granted higher initial ratings for his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn. The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a right testicular/groin disability, right leg disability, or lumbosacral spine disability. Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran currently has PTSD as a result of enduring enemy mortar attacks while serving in Iraq, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and affording the Veteran with VA examinations to determine the current severity of her service-connected disabilities. The appeal is now pending before the AOJ.

The Veteran's schizophrenia, paranoid type, has been rated at 70 percent since January 17, 2007. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected catatonic type schizophrenia is found to have contributed substantially or materially to his death, and the Board grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, including for ischemic heart disease presumed related to herbicide exposure during his service in Thailand. The left shoulder disorder was not found to be service-connected due to lack of evidence showing it was incurred or aggravated by service. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and erectile dysfunction was also denied. The Veteran's claim for TDIU was not addressed as the issue is related to a different claim.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to address the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia. The examiner will provide a current diagnosis and determine if any diagnosed disorders are related to service or secondary to his service-connected low back disability.