Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of ischemic heart disease or PTSD, and the evidence did not support a finding that the claimed stressors occurred during service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of February 16, 1989 for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied. The Board found no clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the June 1989 rating decision that initially denied service connection due to lack of evidence linking the Veteran's diagnosed conditions post-service discharge to service. An effective date prior to March 29, 1999 for the grant of service connection was also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disorder and a psychiatric disorder, both secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus. The Veteran needs to undergo VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand orders, including scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder is denied as there is no competent evidence linking the condition to his active service.,Service connection for hypertension is also denied because it did not manifest during or within one year after service and is unrelated to service. The Veteran was diagnosed with hypertension in November 2012, many years post-service.,The claim for kidney failure is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to the condition. Proteinuria alone does not constitute a compensable disability for VA purposes.,High cholesterol is not considered a disability for VA compensation purposes and thus service connection cannot be granted.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is reopened due to new evidence submitted since the last denial in February 1975, but remains denied as there is no evidence of such condition during or related to service.

The Veteran's death was caused by cirrhosis of the liver, which is secondary to his service-connected back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder. Service connection for a liver disability, low back disability, right lower extremity sciatica, left lower extremity sciatica, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) has been granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but remands it for further development and opinion regarding service connection.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, chronic laryngitis, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression), finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service or exposure to toxic contaminants.

The Veteran's claim for a tailbone fracture, left foot disorder, right foot disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder was denied. The effective date of the award for lumbar myofascial syndrome is set at September 10, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including recurrent lumbar spine disorder, left hip disorder, right knee disorder, psychiatric disorder to include a not otherwise specified depressive disorder, and recurrent sleep disorder have been denied. The issues related to these conditions are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is not service connected as it was related to his alcohol use, and there is no evidence of a disease or injury in service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's complete service treatment records need to be obtained and reviewed, as they have not been associated with his claims file. The issues of tinnitus, chronic headaches, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, anxiety, and PTSD) are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence. The issues include left and right knee disabilities, residuals of a head injury, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD).

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective from September 29, 2015. The Board has remanded the issue of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for arteriovenous malformation (AVM).

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability is granted. The Veteran's DM is not entitled to a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to December 18, 2013, and not entitled to a rating in excess of 40 percent beginning December 18, 2013. The Veteran's diabetic nephropathy with hypertension is not entitled to a higher than 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed. New and material evidence has reopened claims for bilateral elbow disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, neck disorder, and chronic sinusitis but the claims are denied on their merits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 31, 2016 and a rating in excess of 10 percent on or after October 31, 2016 was denied. The Board found the evidence insufficient to grant these claims and remanded for further development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including paranoid schizophrenia and other conditions, is granted. PTSD was denied. The claim for service connection is reopened due to new evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for tonsillitis, vertigo, and an acquired psychiatric disability due to outstanding VA treatment records and need for further medical examinations.