Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and sleeping disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, is related to his service in Korea. The claim for PTSD was denied as there was no evidence of stressors, but the diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder had its initial onset during active duty service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and headache disorder have not been shown to warrant a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, left knee, right leg, cervical spine, and psychiatric disorders. The claim for service connection for a lung disorder is also granted. The Veteran's psychiatric disorder is found to be secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's injuries, including his lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, residuals of a fractured skull, traumatic brain injury, headaches, vertigo, neurological condition affecting bilateral lower extremities (claimed as pain and muscle spasms), neuropathy of upper extremities, and acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) are due to his own willful misconduct. As such, these claims for service connection are denied.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, DM, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Veteran's exposure to herbicides is presumed but not applicable to these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and providing a supplemental VA opinion regarding her claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board is remanding the case due to the need for additional records from SSA and VA, as well as any relevant private treatment records. The claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board found no credible evidence of the Veteran's claimed military sexual assault, and thus denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD, and service connection for depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia is also denied as there is no evidence of these conditions in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for psychiatric disorders and sleep apnea, including a need to corroborate stressors and obtain additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative, and the appeals for separate evaluations of TBI, service connection for schizophrenia, and compensation under 38 C.F.R. § 1151 have all been dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's schizophrenia, a pre-existing condition, was not aggravated by service and is therefore entitled to service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is not related to his time in service or any service-connected conditions, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied as he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Board found that the Veteran did not sustain a TBI while on active duty or have a TBI related to his military service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not properly before it due to a remand of other issues, and thus the appeal is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including dysthymia and a personality disorder, is as likely as not related to his military service. His current sleep disability, which includes obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is also found to be proximately due to his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disability. However, the claim for OSA was denied as there is no evidence to support its development during or following military service.

The Board found no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents, and thus denied service connection for diabetes mellitus on a presumptive basis. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and bipolar disorder were not shown to be related to his military service.