Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2009

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from the Gene Taylor community-based outpatient clinic and considering the possibility of service connection for another acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board is considering whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the appellant's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder. The decision will determine if the evidence presented since the last final denial supports reopening the claim.

The Veteran's benefits were withheld from December 27, 2001 to August 25, 2003 due to being a fugitive felon. The Board is remanding the case for further investigation into whether the Veteran was indeed a fugitive felon.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for chronic undifferentiated schizophrenia and determined that it is as likely as not that his condition manifested during active duty. As a result, he is granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's pre-existing schizophrenia was aggravated by his brief period of active service and grants service connection for schizophrenia on the basis of aggravation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left foot disabilities, as well as his acquired psychiatric disability (depression), are related to service. The Veteran's depression is found to be secondary to his bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been fully granted, and the appeal is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant prior to a decision being made.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of reopening his service connection for a psychiatric disability due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The left radius disability is rated at 10 percent, the acquired psychiatric disorder was not incurred in service or due to a presumptive condition, sinusitis with septal deformity was not related to service, back and neck spasms and seizures with facial numbness are not related to service, double hernia with stomach muscles deformity were not related to service, and asbestos-related disease and bilateral shoulder disability were also denied.

The Veteran's headaches and acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and schizophrenia, are found to be related to service. The personality disorder claim is withdrawn.

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

The Veteran's skin disorders are diagnosed as tinea versicolor and tinea pedis, which were not related to service. The claims for anemia and a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and Anxiety Disorder) have been remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of a left eye disability or any residual related to his in-service acute left eye injury, and the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was not characterized as PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee disorder, right shoulder disorder, and a lower and middle back disorder. The Board found no current disability from these conditions and concluded that there was insufficient evidence to link any of them to her military service.

The Veteran's lumbar DJD is presumed to have been incurred in service, and his psychiatric disability is presumed to have pre-existed service. The claims are granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate his service connection claims for a psychiatric disorder, including dysthymic disorder, and allergic rhinitis.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VCAA notice and arranging for a VA examination.