Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2007

The Board granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent for the veteran's low back strain, effective from May 17, 2001. The veteran's low back disability is manifested primarily by complaints of pain and limitation of motion, with mild degenerative arthritis.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for malaria and a psychiatric disorder (claimed as neurasthenia). The claim for malaria is granted, while the claim for a psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Board finds the veteran's residuals of a left orbital floor fracture with macular degenerative changes and an enophthalmos left eye are appropriately rated under the criteria of Diagnostic Code 6009. The claim for entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent must be denied.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia and also denied his claim for service connection for tardive dyskinesia.

The veteran's service-connected paranoid schizophrenia is rated at 50 percent disabling and does not meet the criteria for a TDIU based on this rating. The evidence does not warrant referral for consideration of individual unemployability on an extraschedular basis.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and major depression were denied. The RO found that the maximum schedular evaluation for tinnitus had been granted, and there was no legal basis for a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, currently diagnosed as bipolar disorder. The evidence shows that the veteran had a pre-existing psychiatric condition (schizophrenia) prior to service but experienced significant deterioration during military service.

The Board is remanding the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for compliance with notification requirements.

The veteran's claims for service connection on the merits are being remanded due to confusion and inaccuracies in previous decisions. The RO/AMC must readjudicate his claims of entitlement to service connection for venereal disease, venereal warts, gall stones, schizophrenia, alcohol dependence, a stomach disorder, sinus congestion, dental disabilities, and emphysema on the merits.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the veteran meets the criteria for PTSD and whether its current manifestation is related to service. The stressor in this case is exposure to multiple mortar fire attacks at Phan Rang Air Base during his tour in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records, particularly those from Nuremburg, Germany, where the veteran received psychiatric treatment. The claim for service connection is pending and will be reviewed again after obtaining all relevant medical records.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or asbestosis, and there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for these conditions. The acquired psychiatric disability (generalized anxiety disorder) was found not related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder and found that he did not meet the basic eligibility requirements for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for paranoid schizophrenia, finding that the veteran's current diagnosis is related to his military service. Service connection for heart disease was not granted as new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The Board found that there was no evidence of chronic right or left knee disability in service, and that any current knee disability is less likely as not related to service. For his psychiatric disorder claim, the Board determined that there was insufficient verified stressor events in service to support a diagnosis of PTSD, and thus denied both claims.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran does not have a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD due to disease or injury which was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's deviated nasal septum did not occur during active duty for training and is therefore not service-connected. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and left wrist fracture residuals are also denied.

The veteran is entitled to reimbursement for unauthorized private medical expenses incurred on May 7, 2004 due to an emergency psychiatric episode related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidence, including Social Security records and medical records from 1986 to 1996. The veteran's attorney provided a new physician's opinion on the matter.

The Board has determined that the veteran's disability manifested by memory loss did not have its onset during active service or result from disease or injury in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.