Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining relevant Social Security Administration records and any outstanding VA medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left elbow strain was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal. The Board found that the Veteran has PTSD linked to an in-service personal assault and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange, during his service in Vietnam and thus meets the criteria for presumptive service connection for ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess his occupational impact from his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders are found to be productive of severe symptoms, cognitive impairment, and functional impairment that prevent him from maintaining sufficient focus and attention to complete even simple tasks, tolerating normal supervision, establishing and maintain normal work relationships, tolerating the stress of a normal work or worklike setting, or maintaining a regular work schedule. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether his psychiatric disability prevents him from realistically obtaining or following substantially gainful, non-marginal, and 'unprotected' employment.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability was rated at 100% effective May 25, 2000. This is the earliest date on which it was factually ascertainable that an increase in severity occurred.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss resulted in a combined rating of 90 percent as of June 10, 2011. This prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.,As of June 10, 2011, the Veteran was found to meet the schedular criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for atrial fibrillation, an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely depression), and a right leg disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, finding that there was no evidence supporting a link between the claimed in-service stressor and current symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, blackouts, back condition, sleep disorder, high blood pressure, erectile dysfunction, and acquired psychiatric disability were denied. The right shoulder disability was granted a 20 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), and dementia are not supported by the evidence. The preponderance of the evidence is against these claims.

The Board found that the appellant's acquired psychiatric disorder and arteriosclerotic heart disease are not attributable to service, including ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, verify in-service stressors, and provide a VA examination for his right foot pain and psychiatric disorders. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no issues related to service connection were addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, or a shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and providing proper notice to the Veteran regarding personal assault stressors. The claim will be adjudicated again after these steps are completed.

The Veteran's application for waiver of premiums for RH insurance was denied because his total disability did not begin after the date of his application or while the insurance was in force under premium-paying conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA and private medical records, as well as service personnel records. The appellant's claims will be readjudicated based on the updated evidence.

The Board has ordered additional development due to incomplete records and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's hypertension and acquired psychiatric disability claims are being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, skin lesions, stroke residuals, and hypertension are denied. The Board finds that the medical evidence does not support a current diagnosis of these conditions.,For the skin lesion claim, the VA examiner did not provide an opinion regarding whether any diagnosed condition is related to herbicide exposure.