Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2007

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and evidence regarding her claimed conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of major depressive disorder and an increased evaluation of residuals of a fracture of the right humerus with arthritis. The Board found no causal relationship between the veteran's service-connected right arm and hand disabilities and his claimed psychiatric condition, and thus denied both claims.

The veteran's lumbosacral strain (low back disorder) and patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee have been granted service connection. The veteran's greater trochanteric bursitis of the left hip has been denied, as well as her initial disability rating for psoriasis which was granted from March 10, 2004 to May 12, 2005 and then again from May 13, 2005 to April 13, 2006. The veteran's residuals of surgical repair of a Morton's neuroma of the left foot have also been granted service connection.,The veteran's psoriasis has been granted service connection but her initial disability rating is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher than 10% rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disorder, psychiatric disability (including PTSD), and tinnitus are not service-connected.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for paranoid schizophrenia and granted service connection based on new evidence showing that the disorder was incurred in active military service.

The Board has denied service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder and organic mood disorder, but remanded the issue due to new evidence submitted by the veteran. The case is now being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining National Guard service medical records and personnel records from 1991 to 1994, as well as any private medical records from St. Thomas Hospital.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and dysthymic disorder. The gastro-intestinal disorder is presumed to be secondary to the service-connected PTSD. Service connection is also granted for diabetes mellitus II, lower back disability, and left knee disability.

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder did not clearly and unmistakably pre-exist service, and there was no evidence showing it had its onset during service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD). However, there is no current diagnosis of PTSD. The veteran's previously denied claim for service connection remains pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and a psychiatric disability on the basis that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder did not manifest during service or for many years thereafter, and is not otherwise related to such service. Therefore, the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD or a disorder characterized as depression, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of chronic schizophrenia, finding that no formal or informal claim had been filed prior to September 9, 1996.

The Board has determined that the veteran's preexisting acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression, was aggravated by service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that it is related to the veteran's period of active duty training (ACDUTRA) in May 1993. Service connection was denied for a seizure disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than January 5, 2000, for payment of helpless child benefits due to lack of a prior claim within one year of his son's eighteenth birthday.

The veteran's schizophrenia, undifferentiated type is rated at 70 percent and no higher due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's schizoaffective disorder, finding that it is related to his active military service.