Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is presumed due to herbicide agent exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is as likely as not attributable to service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims to service connect a psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic sinusitis were reopened. The Board finds that the Veteran has a psychiatric disability etiologically related to his period of active service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing medical opinions regarding the service connection claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's disability, which includes conversion disorder, PTSD, and schizophrenia, has resulted in total occupational and social impairment. The Board grants a rating of 100 percent for the Veteran's conversion disorder.

The Veteran's tinnitus, hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorder, and sleep disorder are all found to be related to service. The lumbar degenerative joint disease, myofascial cervical syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, left ankle sprain with osteoarthritis and ligamentous instability, and right ankle sprain with osteoarthritis and ligamentous instability have been granted initial compensable ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right knee disability and right femur disability with leg shortening. The Veteran seeks higher ratings, but the evidence does not support a finding that he meets or nearly approximates the criteria for any of the higher schedular ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is secondary to his service-connected Crohn's disease, and he is granted a rating of 100 percent for Crohn's disease with stitch abscess.

The Veteran's service connection claim for posttraumatic stress disorder is granted due to the evidence being at least in equipoise as to whether he meets the criteria for a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder related to his verified combat service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no credible supporting evidence of the alleged stressor event. The Board found that the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, but did not establish a link between it and his active service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and schizoaffective disorder. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a respiratory disorder were denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The Board found that the current diagnoses are not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for idiopathic pericarditis and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety) was granted. The effective date of the grant is set at April 17, 2013.

The Veteran's headaches have been rated as at least 30 percent disabling throughout the appeal period. The Board finds that an initial rating of at least 30 percent is warranted for his service-connected headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for psychiatric disability, right knee disability, and residuals of a tibia fracture. However, the Veteran's initial ratings have not been increased beyond the assigned levels.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of kidney disease, low back disability, left leg disability, or psychiatric disability other than his service-connected left knee disability. The appeal for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, related to service. The Veteran's dermatophytosis and bilateral hearing loss do not meet the criteria for an initial compensable evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's psychiatric disability is also being referred to a different examiner for preparation of an addendum opinion.