Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability, diagnosed as onychomycosis of the toenails and tinea pedis with possible bacterial infection, is related to service.,The Veteran has a history of COPD that began in service and is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions began during or were caused by his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected tinnitus and hearing loss, as well as his claims for service connection for various conditions. The Veteran was granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD, hiatal hernia and Barrett's esophagus was denied in the March 2010 rating decision. The claim for osteoporosis was also denied at that time. The Veteran's PTSD has been rated as 50 percent disabling prior to May 15, 2015.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as service connected. The Board found that the current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to events of his active service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's schizophrenia disability is related to his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and finds no evidence to support service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claimed conditions were not service connected as they are either attributed to known clinical diagnoses or do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to exposure in the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a higher evaluation for bilateral pes planus are not before the Board as they have no jurisdiction due to the Veteran's passing.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder and bilateral lower extremity livedoid vasculopathy were not incurred or aggravated during his active duty service from July 1987 to May 1993. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and the periods of qualifying service with the USAF Reserve after January 2003.

The Veteran's eye disability, characterized as consecutive strabismus, is found to be etiologically related to his military service and granted service connection. The psychiatric disorder claim remains pending due to the remand for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, hepatitis C, and right hand arthritis have been denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.,There is no clear indication in the record that the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and major depression disorder that is etiologically related to a disease, injury, or event which occurred in service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Appellant's diagnosed unspecified depressive disorder and her military service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's discharge was due to willful and persistent misconduct, leading to a character of discharge under other than honorable conditions. The RO concluded he is not eligible for VA compensation benefits or health care benefits because his period of service ended in such a manner. However, the Board finds that a medical opinion is necessary to determine if the appellant may have been insane at the time of his misconduct.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a separate rating for bruxism are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a video conference hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD and there is no link between current symptoms and in-service stressors.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for VA and federal employment records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Board found no evidence of a causal relationship between the Veteran's skin cancers, chronic spinal disorder, myofascial pain syndrome, or acquired psychiatric disorder and his military service. The claims were denied as there was insufficient medical evidence to support the assertions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his back condition, acquired psychiatric disorder, and Parkinson's disease. The claims will be returned to the Board for further adjudication.