Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted, with the exception of peripheral neuropathy. The psychiatric disorder claim has been reopened due to new evidence relating it to a service-connected condition (diabetes mellitus). Service connection is also established for coronary artery disease as secondary to diabetes mellitus. Increased ratings are granted for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and diabetic retinopathy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing the appellant with proper notice under 38 U.S.C.A. §§ 5102, 5103, and 5103A.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is being remanded due to the need for additional development and clarification of his claimed in-service stressors.

The Board found no evidence to support the appellant's claims for service connection for psychiatric, bilateral foot, right knee, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities. The appeals were denied as direct service connection was not established.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal of the remaining claims prior to a decision being made.

The Board has granted a rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's schizophrenia, effective from August 2003. The claim for an earlier effective date is subsumed by this decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including as secondary to a service-connected low back disability, were denied. The claim for the initial rating higher than 10 percent for his low back disability was also denied.

The Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder and PTSD were not shown to be caused or aggravated by events during military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, arthritis of the bilateral hands, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depression). The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and thus, cannot establish service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, and coronary artery disease were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, PTSD, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The appellant withdrew his appeal for the claims of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, hearing loss, and right knee chondromalacia.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was denied as there was no evidence of disability prior to March 10, 1998 and the appeal is untimely.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for further development due to unavailability of records from the U.S. Department of State and National Archives and Records Administration.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disorder, low back disorder, bilateral eye disorder, and TMJ disorder. The claim for service connection for migraine headaches as secondary to a bilateral eye and/or TMJ disorders is moot due to denial of other related conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining SSA disability determination records and a VA examiner's opinion regarding whether any current psychiatric disabilities are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete evidence and needs further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for further examination.