Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2009

The Veteran's psychiatric disability (chronic adjustment disorder with mixed emotional features) is granted as secondary to his service-connected pain disorder. The rating for the neurological manifestations of his pain disorder remains at 30 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of a service-connected right middle finger disability and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded for additional development. The TDIU claim is also deferred.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include a major depressive disorder was denied as there is no credible evidence that the current condition is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a search of the NCOIC's personnel records to determine if there were in-service stressors related to sexual harassment and assault.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a diagnosed PTSD or verified in-service stressor, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, including whether any were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain additional service treatment records and conduct a VA examination. The Veteran's claim for reopening his service connection for schizoid personality disorder (also claimed as schizophrenia) is now pending.

The Veteran's appeal for PTSD was withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision. The issue of bipolar disorder is being remanded for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal, finding that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen his claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses is denied as VA facilities were feasibly available and an attempt to use them beforehand would have been reasonable, and the disorder does not qualify as a medical emergency.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is proximately due to or significantly contributed to by his service-connected disabilities, granting service connection for this condition. The issues regarding residuals of a right wrist laceration are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and for a compensable rating for the residuals of a fracture of the nose were denied. The appeal is remanded to the RO.

The Veteran's schizophrenia caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in areas such as work, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood but did not cause total occupational and social impairment. The VA granted a 30 percent rating for the disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further development, including obtaining medical records and social security disability records.

The Veteran's death was not caused by VA treatment, and the Board finds that service connection for the cause of his death is denied.

The Board has determined that schizophrenia, a disease, did not have its onset or increase in severity during any period of active service or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA), and is not otherwise related to a period of active service. Therefore, the Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is not related to his service-connected left and right knee disabilities, and thus denied the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of stressors and a VA examination to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disability. The appeal is now pending with the RO.

The Board found no evidence of schizophrenia, paranoid type during service or within one year after discharge. The appellant's current condition is not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia based on new and material evidence.