Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as a mood disorder) is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected asthma, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is found to be related to his service-connected back disability. The right knee and left knee disorders are not considered service connected.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to delays in contacting the Veteran and scheduling a VA examination. The claim will be reconsidered after these actions are completed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's schizophrenia is service-connected, and therefore his claim for medical care under 38 U.S.C. § 1702 is moot.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder is service-connected due to its pre-existing nature and aggravation during service. The heart disorder claim was remanded, and the psychiatric disorder claim does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral eye condition is a congenital defect and does not warrant service connection. For his acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection as no competent medical opinion supports a link between any current psychiatric condition and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is not service-connected due to a lack of medical nexus between his current condition and his period of active duty.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted as it is at least as likely as not related to personal trauma experienced during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA psychiatric and orthopedic examination.

The Board found no current joint and bone disability, denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed joint and bone disorder. The Board also denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and gastrointestinal disorder. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to consider all evidence, including a recent VA examination report. The TDIU claim is also deferred until these issues can be addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cardiovascular disorder, including ischemic heart disease and coronary artery disease (CAD), is presumed due to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The hypertension claim remains pending as it does not fall under the presumptive service connection for herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, as he did not meet the legal requirements for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his in-service combat experiences and grants service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is found to be etiologically related to his service in Vietnam and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD as a result of military sexual trauma while in service. The case is REMANDED to obtain an examination and medical opinion regarding the existence and etiology of the claimed PTSD, including whether it is related to her active service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of frostbite of the left hand was denied as there is no competent and credible evidence showing that she had a disability at any point during the period on appeal. The Board found that her current condition does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection have been denied. The Board found that no new or material evidence had been submitted to reopen the previously denied claims.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are supported by his credible account of in-service events and medical evidence linking the disabilities to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional search of his service records and a VA examination on his left shoulder disability, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder.