Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2009

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA psychiatric examination and verifying another claimed stressor event.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of a thoracolumbar spine disorder due to withdrawal by the Veteran's attorney. The psychiatric disorder issue remains, but as there is no evidence of continuity of symptoms since service separation and no medical opinion linking current psychiatric disorders to service, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for an increased disability rating for her service-connected lumbar spine disability and service connection for her acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for further development due to incomplete records and additional examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as there was no current diagnosis of PTSD and insufficient evidence to establish a link between the claimed condition and active service.

The Board has determined that there is no verifiable stressor to support the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Veteran failed to report for VA examinations and provided anecdotal information regarding his experiences in Vietnam without credible supporting evidence.

The Board has reinstated the claim and evaluated it on the merits. The Veteran was provided with a chance to provide additional evidence or information necessary for a decision, including clinical records from his private physician.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate notice and the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence showing that his schizophrenia began during his initial period of active duty. The Board finds that the Veteran's schizophrenia is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right arm and shoulder disability, claimed as secondary to his left shoulder disability, cannot be reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The claims for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy of the BUE, psychiatric disability, vision loss, hypertension, sexual dysfunction, and bilateral feet problems are all denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. However, additional development is required with respect to the underlying service connection claim due to outstanding records from active service in Okinawa and a need for medical examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for a medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's dysthymic disorder is related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not currently demonstrate an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety, which first manifested within one year of separation from service and is related to his service or to any incident therein.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a need for an opinion on whether the Veteran's diagnosed major depressive disorder is related to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral ankle disability and found that new evidence supports this claim. The Board also determined that there is no current diagnosis of a bilateral ankle disability, and thus denied service connection for this condition. Service connection was granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as 'nervous condition'), specifically post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private psychiatric treatment records and a VA examination. The issues of service connection for a sinus disorder, a higher initial rating for lumbar strain, and an increase rating for a left knee disability are also being addressed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further development.

The Board denied service connection for eye disorders, kidney and liver disorders, dizzy spells and headaches, and PTSD as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus. The evidence did not show these conditions were related to service or service-connected diabetes.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including providing proper notification and potentially scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen his previous denial of service connection for schizoaffective disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for ulcer disease, PTSD, and neurogenic claudication of both lower extremities. The decision found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the previously denied claim of ulcer disease. Service connection was also denied for PTSD.