Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hypertension, hernia, psychiatric disability (to include PTSD), and a right knee condition have been dismissed. The appeal for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and remanded the cases of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and entitlement to Dependents Educational Assistance under (D.E.A.).

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. Service connection was denied for diabetes mellitus based on herbicide exposure, cataracts secondary to diabetes mellitus, fungal infection secondary to diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, right upper extremity, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder, which was previously denied in August 1999. The new evidence received indicates that the Veteran's schizophrenia began during his active duty from July 1978 to July 1982 or within one year thereafter. As such, the claim is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and he is granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depressive disorder), right shoulder strain, and residuals of a traumatic brain injury. The claim for service connection for a rash remains pending as new evidence was received but does not establish the current condition.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for gout, an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), residuals of a right ring finger injury, and a low back condition due to inadequate examinations. The Veteran is required to be provided with medical evaluations to determine the nature and etiology of his disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than brief depressive disorder, and bilateral hearing loss have all been denied.,Service connection was not granted because the evidence did not establish a link between any of these conditions and active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for migraine headaches and an acquired psychiatric disability (major depressive disorder) due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected undifferentiated schizophrenia renders him unemployable, as he was unable to perform his job duties due to the condition and has not been able to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since 2003.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the issue regarding service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder resulted in an inability to retain employment from May 20, 1968 to June 27, 1985. The Board granted a 100% disability rating for this period and also granted retroactive Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits effective as of May 20, 1968.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disability, type II diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, dementia, and psychiatric disability. The Board found no evidence of continuous or recurrent symptoms since separation from active service.

The Board has determined that new material evidence has been presented to reopen the claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities. The reopened claims are granted, but the service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's back disability is presumed to be related to service, and the Board finds that it was incurred in active service. The psychiatric disability (depression) is not secondary to the back disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied in 2003, but reopened and awarded effective October 8, 2010. The Board finds that the earliest possible effective date is October 8, 2010.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed due to the Veteran's claimed stressors related to his service in Korea and PTSD symptoms. The examiner will determine if the diagnosed psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further medical evaluation.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including those for a jaw condition, left and right hip conditions, left and right knee conditions, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder, liver condition, kidney condition, and TDIU. The reasons for these remands include the need to provide a Statement of the Case (SOC) and obtain medical opinions.