Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's colon cancer with metastatic ovarian and liver cancer is not etiologically related to her active service, as there is no evidence of a diagnosis within one year following service. The claims for nasal polyp, asthma, and psychiatric disability are also pending.

The Veteran's claims for a bilateral shoulder condition and left knee condition have been denied as there is insufficient evidence of in-service injury or treatment.,The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include depression has been denied as there is insufficient evidence of in-service injury or treatment.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, low back disability, bilateral radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and acquired psychiatric disorder as they were not incurred or aggravated during active military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have PTSD or a service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, and thus denies her claims for these conditions.

The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, or hypertension. The Veteran's claims are denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating due to functional loss and normal range of motion.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been granted as there is an approximate balance of negative and positive evidence regarding its relationship to service. Service connection for a back disability has also been granted based on an approximate balance of negative and positive evidence.,The Veteran's claim for residuals of a head injury was not addressed in the decision, but it is presumed that service connection was granted as well due to the nature of the other claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's attorney is owed $16,712.60 in past-due attorney fees due to their representation of the Veteran on his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and related conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining addendum opinions from VA examiners regarding whether it is clear and unmistakable that the Veteran's pre-existing schizophrenia did not increase in severity during service beyond its natural progression.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression, as secondary to combat exposure. The right inguinal hernia is not considered service-connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for a ventral hernia and service connection for back, left knee, and psychiatric disabilities. The Veteran's ventral hernia was rated as 20 percent disabling, which is the maximum rating available under the applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's current depression with sleep disturbance was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The VA examiner found no evidence of a psychosis during service or within one year of service, and the Veteran's reported exposure to dead Marines' body crates did not contribute to his psychiatric symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed PTSD and other psychiatric diagnoses, including whether they are related to service.

The Board denied the reopening of a previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to support the claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction. The Board found that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's service in Vietnam caused his acquired psychiatric disorder, which contributed to his death from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is aggravated by his service-connected hepatitis C.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD and will further address this issue in a separate decision.

The Board has granted service connection for the acquired psychiatric disorder of paranoid schizophrenia. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is addressed in the REMAND portion and is currently pending.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding her left knee strain and right knee disability, as well as her psychiatric disorder and costochondritis.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder, is attributable to service. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of these conditions and there is medical evidence linking them to her in-service experiences.