Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Veteran's service connection claim for posttraumatic stress disorder is granted due to the evidence being at least in equipoise as to whether he meets the criteria for a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder related to his verified combat service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no credible supporting evidence of the alleged stressor event. The Board found that the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, but did not establish a link between it and his active service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and schizoaffective disorder. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a respiratory disorder were denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The Board found that the current diagnoses are not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for idiopathic pericarditis and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety) was granted. The effective date of the grant is set at April 17, 2013.

The Veteran's headaches have been rated as at least 30 percent disabling throughout the appeal period. The Board finds that an initial rating of at least 30 percent is warranted for his service-connected headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for psychiatric disability, right knee disability, and residuals of a tibia fracture. However, the Veteran's initial ratings have not been increased beyond the assigned levels.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of kidney disease, low back disability, left leg disability, or psychiatric disability other than his service-connected left knee disability. The appeal for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, related to service. The Veteran's dermatophytosis and bilateral hearing loss do not meet the criteria for an initial compensable evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's psychiatric disability is also being referred to a different examiner for preparation of an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's IBS has been productive of severe impairment throughout the appeal period, warranting a 30% disability rating effective July 28, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left hip disorder, acute gastritis, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, testicle varicocele and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) has been withdrawn. When resolving the benefit of the doubt in favor of the Veteran, he has been diagnosed with PTSD with depression due to combat stressors incurred during service in Iraq.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is granted a disability rating of 70 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder prior to July 10, 2013 and in excess of 70 percent thereafter. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted.

The Board has been notified that the appellant wishes to withdraw her appeal regarding the effective date for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active military service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the identification of relevant medical records. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Board has granted service connection for Parkinson's disease, which is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is etiologically related to his active duty service, and therefore grants service connection for this disability.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is rated at 70 percent since July 13, 2015. Prior to that date, the rating was 50 percent.,The Veteran has been granted TDIU effective July 13, 2015.