Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2009

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete service records and need to verify periods of active duty.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran currently suffers from any such condition.

The Veteran's schizophrenia renders her unable to care for daily personal needs without regular supervision from others or to protect herself from the hazards and dangers of her daily environment, meeting the criteria for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's current psychiatric disorder, including paranoid schizophrenia, is not shown to be due to an event or incident of his period of service. The Board finds that the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder cannot be granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD related to his combat experiences during the Korean War is granted. The Board also finds that he has a current respiratory disability due to asbestos exposure in service, and grants this claim as well.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for further development and readjudication, including scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's PTSD is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to attempt to corroborate the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and activities of his Vietnam unit.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Veteran's undifferentiated schizophrenia has been rated at 100 percent since November 13, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for the residuals of a head injury, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, memory loss, headaches, tinnitus, postural vertigo and status post loss of consciousness, and scar of the left ear is granted.

The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy, as well as his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), were denied by the Board. The issues are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to address the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disorders and their relationship to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including paranoid schizophrenia, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and therefore, the claim for service connection for cause of death is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and depression. The new evidence submitted by private physicians suggests that her current disability may have initially manifested during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his previously denied claims.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and requesting an addendum from the September 2008 examiner.