Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board found that the Veteran's current heart and psychiatric disabilities did not manifest in service or within one year of separation, and are unrelated to service. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder had its onset in 2011.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and entitlement to TDIU due to lack of evidence showing a pre-existing condition or etiology related to his military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD with anxiety disorder, caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas prior to April 29, 2016. The disability did not meet the criteria for a rating of 100 percent due to lack of total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to outstanding treatment records and other issues. The Veteran's request for service connection for any acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression, as well as his claim for TDIU, are pending.

The Board has determined that service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted, as there is at least equipoise evidence to support a finding that the Veteran had a service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder prior to his suicide.

The Board has vacated the portion of its September 2017 decision that denied reopening of claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left wrist disability, and COPD. The new evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and heart disorder are not shown to be related to service or any incident therein.,VA treatment records do not indicate that the Veteran's current conditions were caused by VA care.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The issue of TDIU is remanded as it depends on the outcome of these newly granted claims.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient examination regarding the theories of secondary service connection and Gulf War exposure. The Veteran will need new VA examinations.

The Veteran's stepson, A.M., was not permanently incapable of self-support at the age of eighteen due to mental or physical defects. The evidence does not support a finding that A.M. had a mental defect prior to his eighteenth birthday.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for hemorrhoids has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal. The issues of entitlement to service connection for prostate cancer and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for a heart condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, as due to hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence did not establish direct service connection or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to insufficient evidence and unclear diagnoses. The Veteran's service connection claims are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current schizophrenia, paranoid type, with depression and anxiety had its onset in service and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia in February 2010, and no new and material evidence has been submitted since then.

The Veteran's thoracic spine, left shoulder, left knee, left ankle, right ankle/foot, eye, stomach, leg numbness, and heart disabilities are not service-connected. The psychiatric disability is also not service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened, but the evidence does not establish a current disability. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD) and right knee disability is denied.,Service connection for hypertension cannot be established due to lack of nexus between the condition and service. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and right knee disability are also denied.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis, acquired psychiatric disorder, and increased rating for diabetes mellitus were denied. The claim for service connection for hepatitis was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. Diabetes mellitus remains at 20 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a left hamstring injury, and an emotional distress and depression (psychiatric disorder). The claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee was reopened but not granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disability, and psychiatric disability have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a causal relationship to service.