Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, has been reopened and granted. The Veteran is now entitled to an increased rating of 30 percent for his left knee disability with instability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a grant of service connection on the merits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including cognitive disorder, organic anxiety disorder, and dementia. The decision also addressed other issues such as tinnitus ratings.,Service connection was not granted for either condition.

The evidence does not establish that the Veteran's gastrointestinal disability, variously diagnosed as GERD, hiatal hernia, and diverticulitis, is related to his active service. The Board finds no in-service disease or injury for this claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as there is no diagnosis of PTSD and the evidence does not support a finding that his current psychiatric disorders are related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as the evidence does not establish a nexus between his current conditions and military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining prison medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his current heart disability, lung/breathing disability, hypertension, and psychiatric disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD, right knee disorder (arthritis), prostate condition, and sarcoidosis are related to service. The Veteran's psychiatric disorder is presumed due to his military service in Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War. The right knee disorder, prostate condition, and sarcoidosis were not present until after service.

The Board has recharacterized the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, anxiety, schizophrenia, and depression. The appeal is granted.

The Board has not been able to obtain all service treatment records, especially those from the Veteran's active duty for training (ACDUTRA) period. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's colon cancer with metastatic ovarian and liver cancer is not etiologically related to her active service, as there is no evidence of a diagnosis within one year following service. The claims for nasal polyp, asthma, and psychiatric disability are also pending.

The Veteran's claims for a bilateral shoulder condition and left knee condition have been denied as there is insufficient evidence of in-service injury or treatment.,The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include depression has been denied as there is insufficient evidence of in-service injury or treatment.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, low back disability, bilateral radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and acquired psychiatric disorder as they were not incurred or aggravated during active military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have PTSD or a service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, and thus denies her claims for these conditions.

The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, or hypertension. The Veteran's claims are denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating due to functional loss and normal range of motion.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been granted as there is an approximate balance of negative and positive evidence regarding its relationship to service. Service connection for a back disability has also been granted based on an approximate balance of negative and positive evidence.,The Veteran's claim for residuals of a head injury was not addressed in the decision, but it is presumed that service connection was granted as well due to the nature of the other claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's attorney is owed $16,712.60 in past-due attorney fees due to their representation of the Veteran on his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and related conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining addendum opinions from VA examiners regarding whether it is clear and unmistakable that the Veteran's pre-existing schizophrenia did not increase in severity during service beyond its natural progression.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression, as secondary to combat exposure. The right inguinal hernia is not considered service-connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for a ventral hernia and service connection for back, left knee, and psychiatric disabilities. The Veteran's ventral hernia was rated as 20 percent disabling, which is the maximum rating available under the applicable diagnostic code.