Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying in-service stressors.

The Veteran's depression is found to be secondary to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (diagnosed as major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder) and denied the remaining issues. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active duty service.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current tension-type headaches and service, nor did it find any link between his acquired psychiatric disorder (Major Depression with Anxiety) and service. The Veteran's claims were denied.

The Veteran's hypertension has not manifested as diastolic pressure predominantly of 110 or more, or systolic pressure predominantly of 200 or more during the appeal period. The claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses for tinnitus, a sleep disability, high blood pressure, a gastrointestinal disability (ulcerative colitis), or a headache disability. The acquired psychiatric disorder (diagnosed as bipolar disorder, major depression, anxiety disorder, and panic disorder) is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disability other than her service-connected major depressive disorder was denied. The Board found no evidence to support a diagnosis of PTSD related to in-service assault and concluded that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disability other than her already service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. The remaining issues remain pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's schizophrenia is at least as likely as not incurred in active duty service, and therefore grants service connection for schizophrenia.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, specifically major depressive disorder, is found to be related to his military service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's death is not eligible for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 because he did not meet the criteria of having been continuously rated totally disabled for at least ten years prior to his death.

The Board found the May 1977 rating decision denying service connection for a nervous condition was consistent with the evidence then of record and properly applied governing laws and regulations. The Veteran's schizophrenia, diagnosed in 1977, was not considered related to his service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board denied both claims for recognition of J. as a helpless child and apportionment of the Veteran's VA compensation benefits, finding that the evidence did not support the appellant's claim that J. was permanently incapable of self-support prior to his eighteenth birthday.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new and material evidence. However, it is unable to establish a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other specific psychiatric condition related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not present an exceptional disability picture warranting referral for extraschedular consideration. The acquired psychiatric disorder was determined to be secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete development, including a need for an examination regarding his claimed acquired psychiatric disorder and additional VA examinations for his service-connected lumbar spine, lower extremity radiculopathy, and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his lumbar spine disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show ankylosis or IVDS treated by bed rest, which are required for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases or Injuries of the Spine. The Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection claim for depression and knee disabilities is pending as the SOC has not been issued yet.

The Board found insufficient credible supporting evidence to corroborate the Veteran's claimed in-service stressor of a Military Sexual Trauma (MST), and thus denied service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is granted, with an SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) and a separate evaluation for left knee instability added to his current rating. The issues of increased evaluations for the left femur and right elbow disabilities are also addressed.