Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disability, heart disability, extremity numbness, dizziness, eye disability, leg disability, back disability, and neck disability are all denied as the evidence does not support a connection to service or any incident of service origin.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as dysthymic disorder and PTSD, was rated at 30 percent from November 20, 2009, to October 1, 2012. After this period, the rating for PTSD alone increased to 70 percent.,The Veteran's left knee condition resulted in a 10 percent rating since February 23, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the current severity of his service-connected left ear hearing loss disability, whether he has a right ear hearing loss disability related to military service, and the etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, has been reopened and is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has dismissed all issues on appeal due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities or an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's claims are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying stressor events. The claims will be reconsidered after the development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining SSA records and confirming the Veteran's posting at Camp Irwin.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus have not been found to warrant a compensable rating, but service connection for both conditions has been granted. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his service and have denied all three issues on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, depression, and/or anxiety, cannot be established as the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis. The Board acknowledges that he served in combat but lacks supporting documentation.,The claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability has been rated at 100% since August 22, 2016. The Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU effective from March 3, 2011, based on his unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes was denied. The evidence received since the October 2006 decision did not relate to injury or disease in service or a nexus between post-service disability and service.,The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depression) was denied. The evidence received since the October 2006 decision did not relate to injury or disease in service or a nexus between post-service disability and service.,The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus was granted. The evidence received since February 2009 addressed the unestablished fact of a current disability, which is new and material.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's schizophrenia, paranoid type, warrants a 10 percent disability rating throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected urinary incontinence, hypertension, and other conditions make her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board finds that the Veteran's schizophrenia, an acquired psychiatric disorder, is related to his active duty service and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum VA medical opinion to address the significance of VA treatment records showing diagnoses of rule/out major depression, PTSD, and combat-related stress and anxiety prior to and during the appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and a cognitive disorder. The evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD made in accordance with DSM criteria, and there was no nexus between any current psychiatric disability and service.