Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of COPD or an acquired psychiatric disorder, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims for service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, but new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim for service connection for a neck/cervical spine disability. The Veteran's current neck disabilities are at least as likely as not related to an injury during his 1996 period of active duty for training.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including MDD, PTSD, and panic disorder, is found to be related to his military service. His coronary artery disease and hypertension are also found to be related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability in most cases, with the exception of chronic rhinosinusitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a left knee disorder related to his military service and does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD or an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD. The Veteran's anxiety disorder is found to be etiologically related to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability, which is now granted. The Veteran's current psychiatric disability, diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenia, is etiologically related to his active service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for scars of the penis and scrotum. The new evidence received is sufficient to reopen this claim, but further development is needed to determine if there was a groin injury during service and whether it caused any current disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression), but denied the claim on the merits. The cervical spine disorder claim was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis was not reopened. The left foot Lisfranc sprain is rated at 10 percent, and the lumbar strain remains at 20 percent. No new rating has been granted for right or acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disorder and denied service connection for PTSD. For bilateral hearing loss, while the Veteran contends his hearing issues are related to noise exposure in Vietnam, there is no evidence of any hearing problems during service or within one year post-service, and he did not seek treatment until after separation. As such, service connection was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being REMANDED to the AOJ for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the local VA office. The Veteran has requested a Board videoconference hearing, but his request was received prior to any Board consideration of his appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran has PTSD and whether service connection is warranted. The issue of atrial fibrillation will be addressed by issuing a SOC.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with schizophrenia, undifferentiated type, has resulted in occupational and social impairment but not to the extent that would warrant a higher rating. The evidence does not show total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia and psychosis, finding that these conditions are related to active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's symptoms meet the criteria for service connection of PTSD, and thus grants this claim.

The Veteran's request for a hearing before the Board has been granted, and he is scheduled for a travel board hearing. The case will be remanded to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus type II and/or acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous directives.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, chronic sinusitis, and eye disability (including glaucoma) have been denied as there is no evidence of their onset or etiology in service. The Board finds that the lack of post-service evidence showing symptoms until nearly three decades after discharge from service tends to show these conditions did not have their onset in service or for years thereafter.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate or based on aid and attendance is being remanded due to need for clarification of his cognitive disorder and relationship to service-connected schizophrenia, as well as a new VA examination.