Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied. The claims for headaches and an acquired psychiatric disorder were reopened, but denied on the merits.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, as residuals of a traumatic brain injury, was granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's symptoms have been related to his active duty service, and the evidence is in equipoise as to whether he should be granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee osteoarthritis, acquired psychiatric disorder (including bipolar disorder), and bilateral hearing loss are not service-connected.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and issuing new medical opinions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a sleep disorder, and dizziness. The new evidence presented raises reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was denied as there is no evidence of a disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection due to inconsistencies between his self-reported history and medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression and PTSD, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a link between current symptoms and in-service stressors. Service treatment records do not indicate any complaints or diagnoses related to these conditions. The Veteran's current psychiatric condition is being treated through counseling but does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder did not have an in-service onset and is not related to his military service, nor was it caused or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee disorder, or right knee disorder that is related to service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, Meniere's Disease, and an acquired psychiatric disability to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability manifested by muscle aches, memory loss, inability to focus, nightmares and insomnia, IBS or weight loss. The Veteran has been granted service connection for fibromyalgia with symptoms of muscle aches.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is etiologically related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no jurisdiction remains for the merits of the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of any current psychiatric disability and whether a psychosis manifested within one year of service discharge.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for gastrointestinal conditions other than GERD and gastric and duodenal ulcers, meningitis, and an acquired psychiatric condition. However, it did not address the merits of these claims as they are still considered to be in a final status.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the Veteran's representative withdrew their appeal in January 2018.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and a shell fragment wound to the right side of the head have been reopened. The claim for service connection for vertigo, vision disorder, and TBI remains pending.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a right knee disorder and granted it as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The acquired psychiatric disorder (Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety) is also granted as secondary to service-connected disabilities. A rating of 10 percent is assigned for pes planus.

The Board found that the Veteran's respiratory conditions, including COPD and emphysema, did not manifest during service or as a result of asbestos exposure. The obstructive sleep apnea was also determined to have no connection with service or asbestos exposure. The acquired psychiatric disorder was deemed unrelated to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, due to a lack of probative evidence corroborating the claimed in-service stressors and no confirmed diagnosis of PTSD.