Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not incurred in line of duty due to his own willful misconduct, and thus cannot be granted service connection for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board finds that additional development is required to determine if the Veteran's service-connected conditions caused or contributed to his death, including cardiac arrest and renal failure.

The Veteran's schizophrenia is the only service-connected condition, and it does not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status due to his other conditions and lack of institutionalization.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any current left knee disability, visual impairment of bilateral eyes, and acquired psychiatric disability.

The claim for service connection for back disability was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The claims for hypertension, substance abuse disorder as secondary to a psychiatric disorder, and psychiatric disorder were remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination regarding the Veteran's reported in-service stressor involving a personal assault, including being touched and grabbed in his groin area outside his clothes in sight of many other troops by his Master Sergeant on the flight line at the 128th Air Refueling Wing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The remand includes attempting to corroborate the Veteran’s statements and scheduling him for a psychiatric examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right ankle condition, left foot disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and alcohol dependence), and bruxism. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's skin conditions.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD and sleep apnea, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against a link to active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including paranoid schizophrenia and PTSD. The case will be returned to VA to obtain additional records and provide a medical examination to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction due to his failure to timely file a substantive appeal.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including VA examinations and a review of his service records to determine if he experienced in-service stressors.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic paranoid schizophrenia is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating of 100 percent is warranted due to worsening symptoms.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hyperlipidemia, acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and benign prostate hyperplasia with voiding problems due to incomplete VA records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, a seizure disorder (blackouts), headaches, and angioneurotic edema as the Veteran's claims were not supported by credible evidence of in-service stressors or medical diagnoses.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to adjudicate the claims for service connection for vertigo, acquired psychiatric disorder, and hearing loss. The Veteran's claims will be remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection for psychiatric disorders and incomplete VA treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for seizure disorder, sleep apnea secondary to PTSD, and headaches secondary to PTSD. The appeals are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand all issues related to the Veteran's claims due to incomplete medical records. The VA treatment records and any private treatment records not currently in the file need to be obtained for a thorough review.