Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2017

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as it resulted from fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during service. The lower extremity erythema and hypertrophic actinic keratosis are not related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability and acquired psychiatric disorder (schizoaffective disorder) are not related to his active duty service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the appellant's SSA records, military dependent treatment records, and medical opinions. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, respiratory disorder (asthma), or acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no jurisdiction remains for further consideration.

The Veteran's hypertension was not present during his active service, first manifested approximately 25 years following his separation from active service, and was not caused or permanently worsened by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board finds that the criteria for service connection for hypertension have not been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including paranoid schizophrenia, manifested to a compensable degree within one year of his discharge from service in 1998. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not related to a service-connected disease or injury.

The Veteran's appeal is granted, with a disability rating of 20 percent for plantar calluses effective February 20, 2015. Service connection for heart condition and diabetes mellitus are also granted as due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder and denied his claim for service connection. The hearing loss claim is pending further development.

The Veteran's schizophrenia was incurred in service and the Board finds that service connection for psychiatric disability, diagnosed as schizophrenia, is warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for Other Trauma and Stressor Related Disorder and denied an initial compensable rating for hypertension. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are addressed in a separate issue.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that he has a current psychiatric disability related to active service.,Initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent are not warranted for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities due to the lack of evidence showing limitation of motion or other disabling symptoms warranting higher ratings.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that it was incurred or aggravated during service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than depression but including posttraumatic stress disorder was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a respiratory condition are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of the record.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and reviewing the Veteran's service personnel records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board grants TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any current acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, that is related to his military service. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include bipolar disorder and excluding PTSD, was granted. For the period from January 7, 2011 to October 6, 2011, the initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was assigned as 10 percent.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle strain disability is considered service-connected. The Veteran's psychiatric disability, characterized as PTSD with anxiety disorder and major depression, meets the criteria for a 30 percent rating but not higher.