Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2009

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for schizophrenia requires additional development and a new hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of new evidence submitted by the Veteran's attorney. The claim will be reviewed to determine if service connection can be established for any current psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, headaches, and thyroid disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by her military service.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic low back disorder and PTSD due to the lack of evidence showing a nexus between the disorders and active duty service.

The Veteran's low back, knee, hip, and psychiatric conditions are being remanded for further examination and development. The claims for hepatitis C will also be remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's claims of service connection for alcoholism, a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, PTSD, sterility, Type II diabetes mellitus, and a lung disorder were not supported by the evidence. The Board concluded that none of these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has ordered the case remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a psychiatric opinion to address whether the appellant's schizophrenia increased in severity during service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a nexus opinion on whether the Veteran's current psychiatric disability is causally related to his service or service-connected low back disability. The issues of service connection for a psychiatric disability and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of schizophrenia, finding that no communication or evidence was received prior to October 11, 2000, which could be interpreted as a claim to reopen his previously disallowed claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied. The issue of an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD and dysthymic disorder) remains pending.

The Veteran's representative has noted that the Veteran needs a VA psychiatric examination to determine if his current diagnosed psychiatric disorder is related to service or caused by his service-connected disabilities. The case is REMANDED for this purpose.

The Veteran is service-connected for a mental health disability with a disability rating of 70 percent. The Board finds that he is unemployable due solely to his service-connected disability and grants a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and consideration of new evidence, including service treatment records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims for cardiovascular disorders, chloracne, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are being reviewed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for psychiatric disability, as new and material evidence has been submitted. The claim will now be evaluated on its merits.

The Veteran's chronic pelvic pain and Bell's palsy are service connected. Her acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) is not service connected.

The Board is remanding the case due to conflicting evidence regarding whether the Veteran's head injury was in the line of duty and for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if he has a current psychiatric disability related to his service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if any other psychiatric disability is related to service and whether PTSD can be linked to a verified in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 were denied as his claimed disabilities are not considered to be caused by VA care, treatment or examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining records from the JSRRC and VA medical facilities, as well as arranging for a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature of any current psychiatric disorders and their etiology.