Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, and her NSC pension claim has been dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection for a psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear tinnitus, PTSD, and oral cancer can be adjudicated. The Veteran must file timely appeals in response to the September 2017 SOCs addressing these issues. Additionally, a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's oral cancer is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder, which is currently rated at 50 percent, warrants a rating of 100 percent due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current major depressive disorder is related to his active service and grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. As such, the Veteran's request is denied.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, and status post total left knee replacement were denied due to lack of a nexus between service and current disability. The claim for IHD was not addressed as it is not part of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, depression, and anxiety is not related to her service. Her hypertension was also not shown to be caused by or aggravated by her service. The Board denied both claims.

The Veteran's service connection claim for paranoid schizophrenia is granted as his current psychiatric disorder is found to be related to his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD with claustrophobia, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The increased rating claim for asbestosis is remanded. The TDIU issue remains in appellate status.

The Veteran's right foot disability and left foot disability are not service-connected as there is no evidence of a nexus to his military service.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric disorder that manifested during service or is otherwise related to service. His current depression was diagnosed post-service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including consideration of a higher rating for his psychiatric disorder prior to August 20, 2016 and an addendum opinion regarding the service connection claim for hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and substance abuse disorder, are service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to a penile deformity are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's depression is caused by her other service-connected disabilities, specifically her vision loss.,PTSD was not incurred in or caused by the Veteran's service. The Veteran's sleep disorder (insomnia) associated with PTSD and her bilateral eye disorder are also related to her service-connected conditions.

The appeal of service connection for a right shoulder disability is dismissed. Service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (to include depressive disorder) are denied, as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD or evidence linking the disorders to service. Service connection for shin splints is also denied.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of paranoid schizophrenia, finding no jurisdiction to review such a freestanding claim and that the decision was a reasonable application of the law at the time.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, or a heart disability due to herbicide exposure. The evidence does not support a finding of current diagnoses for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disability, a back disability, or a thyroid disability that is related to her active service. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.