Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has decided that the Veteran's schizophrenia is not service-connected, but his PTSD claim remains pending and needs further development.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD effective December 13, 2001. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date is denied as no communication prior to December 13, 2001 can be interpreted as a formal or informal claim for PTSD. For the entire period on appeal, the criteria for a rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD have not been met. The issue of entitlement to TDIU has been granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and residuals associated with a traumatic brain injury due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a chronic kidney disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder (Bipolar Disorder) have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not currently have a diagnosed chronic kidney disability, and there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between his current psychiatric condition and events in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, a liver condition (including hepatitis B and C), an eye condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) due to exposure to herbicides have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have a psychiatric disorder consisting of PTSD and did not have PTSD during any portion of the appeal period, and his schizophrenia was not caused by or otherwise related to his active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD and schizophrenia, is denied.

The Veteran's schizophrenia prior to September 20, 2017 resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining STRs and scheduling VA examinations. The appeal will be returned to the AOJ for readjudication.

The Board found that the appellant does not have a valid diagnosis of PTSD and there is no evidence linking his current psychiatric conditions to his service, including his participation in the crash cleanup. The appeal was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss or an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim for service connection for these conditions is denied as there is no evidence to support their occurrence during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and review of recent medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his ocular surface disease, lumbosacral strain with 50 percent L1 compression, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for a reduction in the rating of his coronary artery disease from 60 percent to 30 percent was granted. Additionally, he was awarded a TDIU based on his service-connected psychiatric disability and other disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral glaucoma, sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder claimed as PTSD, hypertension, and LLE radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have Bell's palsy or dysphonia, and his acquired psychiatric disorder, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss are not related to service. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a heart disorder (secondary to panic disorder with agoraphobia or hypertension), and a psychiatric disorder (other than panic disorder with agoraphobia) have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was denied as there is no evidence of its onset during active service or within one year of separation. The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's psychiatric and sleep disorders were related to his military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD or other specified trauma and stressor related disorders are as likely as not related to the in-service sexual assault trauma reported by the Veteran. With resolution of reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for congestive cardiomyopathy. The other issues related to exposure to herbicide agents or diabetes mellitus type II were also denied.