Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across the board, with no compensable rating assigned for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a neuropsychiatric examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for clothing allowance due to the lack of certification from the Chief Medical Director that irreparable damage was done to outer garments by prescribed medications.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was not incurred or aggravated during military service and is not presumed to have been so incurred. The evidence did not show clear and unmistakable evidence of a pre-existing condition, nor did it establish direct service connection.

The Veteran's pre-existing psychiatric disorder was aggravated by service, resulting in an acquired psychiatric disorder. The rating for his service-connected gastroenteritis is now at the minimum compensable level.

The Board has determined that the evidence submitted by the Veteran is not new and material to establish service connection for schizophrenia, which was previously denied in an August 1972 rating decision due to his own willful misconduct. As such, the claim cannot be reopened.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for schizophrenia, as there is no evidence relating his acquired psychiatric disorder to active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records from Social Security Administration (SSA) regarding his 1966 grant of disability benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence of a diagnosis of PTSD and the need for further examination regarding other psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal with respect to the issues of entitlement to service connection for residuals of gonorrhea, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), diabetes mellitus and urinary tract infection.

The Board found no evidence linking the Appellant's acquired psychiatric disorder and right foot disorder to her military service, including any presumptive conditions or exposure. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and further development is needed before a decision can be made on the service connection claim for a psychiatric disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinion and consideration of newly submitted evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for schizophrenia, finding that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen his previously denied claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining in-patient treatment records from Fort Gordon and Fort Gordon facilities. The VA will also provide the Veteran with a VA examination to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service and whether his hepatitis C may be proximately due to or aggravated by this condition.

The Board denied service connection for glaucoma and an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions preexisted his entry into active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting schizophrenia was not aggravated by his military service, and thus granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination if needed. The claim will be readjudicated after the additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed PTSD and depression are aggravated by his service-connected residuals of rheumatic fever, warranting secondary service connection. The compensable rating for residuals of rheumatic fever with joint manifestations is granted.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability was rated at 100 percent effective from November 28, 2006. The claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to that date is denied.