Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current left hip, right wrist, left wrist, or psychiatric disabilities (to include PTSD and depression) due to disease or injury incurred in service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining outstanding medical records. The issues of increased rating for schizophrenia and TDIU are also being addressed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, schizophreniform disorder, and major depressive disorder with psychotic features, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of her medical records.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date prior to July 9, 1979, for the award of service connection for paranoid-type schizophrenia evaluated as 100 percent disabling has been dismissed due to a previous Board decision and Court affirmance.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding it at least as likely as not that the condition had its onset during active duty. Service connection is denied for back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD has been reopened and granted. The Board found that the evidence is sufficient to establish a current diagnosis of depressive and/or mood disorders related to military service, but not PTSD or any other specific psychiatric condition. Service connection was also granted for bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD related to an in-service stressor and his psychiatric disorders are less likely than not related to any incident in service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a head injury, psychiatric disorder, eye disorder, headaches, and drug and alcohol abuse. The claims were previously denied in 1988 due to lack of evidence of residual disability from an in-service incident.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of sleep apnea related to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA psychiatric examination to clarify whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as depression, is related to his service-connected hepatitis C or due to non-service connected osteoarthritis.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, other than mood disorder, to include PTSD, did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty. The claim was denied.

The Board has remanded the appeal for additional development due to a need for another medical opinion regarding service connection claims.

The Veteran's request for a hearing before the Board has been confirmed, and this case is being remanded to schedule that hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a search of sick and morning reports using Code M05 to find service treatment records. The Veteran's claim for PTSD based on personal assault is also addressed with VCAA notification.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is not related to his service-connected skin disabilities and denied both claims for service connection and TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and delusional disorder, was denied as the evidence did not support a finding of a current disability that had its onset in or is otherwise associated with service.

The Board granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, psychiatric disability other than PTSD, right knee disability, stomach disability, and left shoulder disability. The initial ratings for left knee instability and degenerative joint disease were also granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia was denied as he failed to appear for a scheduled VA examination.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and it may not be presumed to have been incurred during service.,As the Veteran's claimed sleep degradation/deprivation/insomnia is already rated under his service-connected psychiatric disability, the appeal for service connection for this complaint is dismissed.,The criteria for an initial disability rating of 30 percent, but no more, for an acquired psychiatric disorder have been met throughout the appeal period.,The Veteran's right knee disability has not been productive of flexion less than 45 degrees, extension greater than zero, or lateral instability or subluxations; but it has been productive of less than full flexion and pain on motion throughout the appeal.,The criteria for an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for migraine headaches have not been met at any time during the appeal period.,There being no justiciable case or controversy, the appeal for an initial disability rating higher than 50 percent for sinusitis beginning November 17, 2011, is dismissed.,There being no justiciable case or controversy, the appeal for an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for allergic rhinitis beginning November 17, 2011, is dismissed.,The criteria for a rating of 50 percent for sinusitis from May 2, 2007, to November 17, 2011, are met; and the criteria for a rating of 10 percent, but no more, for allergic rhinitis from May 2, 2007, to November 17, 2011, are met.

The Board has granted service connection for a depressive disorder, not otherwise specified, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability. The claim for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders remains denied.