Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and hypertension, finding no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service. The acquired psychiatric disability was found to be related to service.,Service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is granted.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for cognitive and psychiatric impairment due to acute lithium toxicity is denied, while his claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for asbestosis is remanded.

The Veteran's right ankle disorder is denied as there is no current diagnosis.,The left ankle disability rating has been restored from 20% to 10%, effective July 1, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's service connection claims for left lower extremity disorder, right ankle disorder, right foot disorder, skin disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to missing records from his reserve service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a dental disorder, vision disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) have been denied.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran’s claimed vision disorder or PTSD due to lack of in-service injury or event, and no current diagnosis of PTSD based on verified stressor. The claim for service connection for a dental disorder is also denied as there was no evidence of loss of substance of the body of maxilla or mandible.,The Veteran's tinnitus has been rated at 10% since its initial grant in February 2017, and an increase to higher ratings is not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic schizophrenia is found to have caused or contributed to his death due to a stroke.,SMC benefits for the Veteran based on aid and attendance or housebound status are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for schizophrenia and PTSD, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the schizophrenia claim and concluding that there was insufficient evidence to support a diagnosis or link between in-service stressors and PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition, hypertension, and eye disability have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo has been remanded as an examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his current peripheral vestibular disorder.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a migraine disability has been remanded as an examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his current headache condition.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been remanded as an examination is needed to determine if he meets the diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and a lack of contemporaneous medical records. The Veteran is required to undergo another VA psychiatric examination by an appropriate medical professional.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, coronary artery disease, erectile dysfunction, and a psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, depression, insomnia, anxiety, nightmares) as the evidence did not show an in-service onset or relationship to service.

Service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive and anxiety disorders, is granted.,Service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy, headaches, hearing loss, and tinnitus are all denied. Service connection for degenerative disc disease is granted with a rating of 50 percent effective from April 5, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, alcohol dependence in full remission, personality disorder, and left testicular contusion have been withdrawn. The claim of service connection for chronic sinusitis is denied. Service connection has been granted for PTSD and major depression (acquired psychiatric disability).

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a 70% disability rating for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that it is not medically ascertainable that the condition increased in severity within one year prior to the claim.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran’s acquired psychiatric disorder, including whether he has PTSD and if his current conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD in the medical records.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the lower back disability claim. The skin disorder of toenails and acquired psychiatric disorder claims have been reopened, but service connection is not granted as there is no new and material evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's skin condition and PTSD were not service-connected, while the sleep disorder was denied. The skin condition is rated at 10%.

The Board has remanded several claims, including service connection for asthma and an acquired psychiatric disorder, due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of new evidence. The Veteran's cervical spine and back disabilities are also being examined as they may be related to his active military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as there is no indication in the record that he has been diagnosed with a psychiatric disability at any time during the course of this appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for frostbite, bilateral feet and an acquired psychiatric disorder (parasomnia). The throat condition is remanded for further development.