Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are granted. The decision is based on new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is found to be related to his active duty service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his legal guardian withdrawing the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted since November 7, 2009. The Board also found that the evidence was at least in equipoise that the Veteran had an acquired psychiatric disorder related to service-connected migraine headaches.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in service and denied his claim.,The Board also found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include unspecified depressive disorder, was not incurred in or related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA compensation purposes. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board granted service connection for a left forearm scar and denied service connection for right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD). Service connection was not established for rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, and bilateral knee disorder. The diagnoses were not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and there is no evidence to support service connection for any other diagnosed mental health condition. The claim for bruxism was denied as well.

The appeal is being remanded due to the addition of new evidence for a higher initial rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The TDIU issue will be deferred until the status of this claim is determined.

The Board has found that the VA examinations are inadequate and requires further examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left leg disability during the appeal period, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied an effective date prior to August 23, 2005 for the grant of service connection for schizophrenia due to non-receipt of the statement of the case sent to the Veteran's new address.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to make a determination on the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting further examinations.

The Board has determined that the August 1978 rating decision effectively reducing the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder from a 100% to a 10% disability rating is the product of clear and unmistakable error (CUE). As such, the 100% rating is restored effective May 19, 2018.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability (schizophrenia) is found to have been aggravated by his active duty service. The Veteran's disability of the arms, legs, hands, and fingers is not shown to be etiologically related to service.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no reliable evidence to corroborate the Veteran's assertions of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a hearing loss disability of the right ear, an acquired psychiatric disorder, left leg disability, and gastrointestinal disability are all denied as there is no current disability found in each case.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining treatment records and verifying the Veteran's reported stressors. The Veteran will be provided another VA examination to determine if his psychiatric condition, including PTSD, is at least as likely as not related to service.