Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the Veteran and the substitution of the appellant as the payor for burial expenses.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetes mellitus was denied. The issues related to PTSD and schizophrenia were not addressed in this decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is not attributable to service, including his presumed herbicide agent exposure. The right leg disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) were also denied as they are not related to service.

The Veteran's psychosis, diagnosed as schizoaffective disorder and schizophrenia, had its onset during his active military service and continues to this day. Service connection for PTSD is denied due to lack of a diagnosis in the record.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, were not found to be related to his military service. The Board also determined that the Veteran is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is rated at 70 percent disabling, effective June 29, 2013. The rating reflects significant occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has ordered the case back to the RO for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the etiology of any acquired psychiatric disability. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated based on all evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disorder, STD residuals, and acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) are all found to be service-connected. The Veteran is granted an increased rating for his service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have service in Vietnam and, therefore, is not entitled to presumptive service connection for any conditions based on herbicide exposure. The claims of service connection for various disabilities are denied as there is no evidence of a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and incomplete evidence. The Veteran's psychiatric history includes multiple diagnoses since service separation, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and atypical psychosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychological disorder is not causally related to his active service or any incident therein, including residuals of a head injury.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back and right knee disabilities did not manifest within a year of separation from service, or are otherwise etiologically related to active military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety and depressive disorder, is found to be related to his service. His residuals of a traumatic brain injury are also found to be related to his service. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), is related to service and has been granted. The cervical spine disability and lumbar spine disability have not yet been rated as the VA examination was inadequate.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed stressors have not been verified, and therefore, his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD cannot be granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a chronic neck disorder, as well as his claim to establish service connection for tinea barbae (pseudofolliculitis barbae) with consideration of earlier effective date. The decision is based on the evidence then of record and the applicable law at that time.

The Veteran's current schizophrenia and depressive symptoms are considered to have been incurred in or caused by his active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of whether he meets the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD under DSM-5 based on in-service stressors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran had PTSD related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including MDD, PTSD, and anxiety disorder), sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, colon polyps, bilateral hand disorder (thumb arthritis), CTS of the upper extremities, and right ear hearing loss are related to his military service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.