Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability, and the Board found that the Veteran did not provide good cause for failing to report for VA examinations. The claims for PTSD and migraine headaches are denied due to failure to report for VA examination without good cause.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression. The Veteran's diagnosed depression was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.,Service connection for hypertension has not been established as the Veteran did not have a diagnosis of hypertension during service and there is no evidence showing that his current condition is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as there is no valid Notice of Disagreement or substantive appeal filed for the issues of increased ratings for bilateral cortical cataracts, diabetes mellitus type 2 with hypertension and erectile dysfunction (ED), and paranoid schizophrenia.

The Board denied a request for an earlier effective date of May 15, 2009, for the award of a 100 percent rating for psychiatric disability. The Veteran's claim was not pending prior to this date and there is no evidence of a factually ascertainable increase in his condition during the year prior to the receipt of his claim.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for gall bladder disorder, lung disease, lipoma, ulcer, prostate cancer, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and PTSD), and tinnitus have been granted. The decision is based on direct service connection due to the Veteran's credible reports of symptom onset within one year post-service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Court held that evidence added to the record since the May 2005 rating decision, denying service connection for PTSD, is new and material, and the claim for service connection is reopened. However, the criteria for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, sleep apnea, liver disorder, diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy of the upper extremities, diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities, and skin cancer have not been met.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia. The Veteran's schizophrenia was aggravated by his active duty service, warranting service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA treatment records related to the Veteran's psychiatric condition, specifically his reported June 2017 VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibrocystic breast disease, a back disorder, pregnancy problems, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions. The Board also found that her statements regarding in-service events are not credible.

The Board found that the Veteran's schizoaffective disorder and PTSD are related to service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides and/or chemicals. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has received a request from the appellant for withdrawal of their appeal, and thus the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for psychiatric disability, left wrist disability, and right wrist disability. The claims were previously denied on the basis that there was no evidence of current disabilities. New evidence received since May 2010 does not show a chronic disability in either or both wrists.

The Veteran's bilateral pinguecula and dry eyes were found to primarily manifest as eye dryness with intermittent visual difficulty, without any indication of disfigurement. The claim for a compensable initial disability rating was denied. For the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, the Board found insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's conditions and her military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD was denied, as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, currently diagnosed as depressive disorder, is granted service connection based on evidence showing a link between the condition and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a left arm disability or lung cancer. The claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and anxiety), kidney cancer, loss of kidney, and hypertension is denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, schizophrenia and an adjustment disorder, with depressed mood, which is related to her active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder and awarded a 100 percent rating for COPD with asthma and residual status post broken ribs, effective prior to September 19, 2011. Other issues remain pending.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is found to be aggravated by service, and his current psychiatric disability is related to service.,Service connection for a right shoulder disability and a psychiatric disability are both granted.