Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim for residuals of a left hand injury was denied as there is no current disability. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including providing appropriate notice regarding PTSD based on personal assault and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of hepatitis C.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis, flat feet, shin splints, hernia, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The decision also noted that the preexisting flat feet did not undergo a worsening beyond its natural progression during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a Travel Board hearing. The claims of service connection will be reconsidered after the hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is related to service. The thoracic spine and hearing loss are not considered service-connected.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to additional development being required.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sensitive feet, right ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, weight gain, sleep disorder, and psychiatric disorder (change in character) as secondary to weight gain are all granted. The claim for service connection for hearing loss is reopened but not decided on the merits.

The Board finds that the Veteran's schizophrenia was aggravated by his active service, and thus grants service connection for the condition.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 50% due to their severe impact on daily activities. Service connection for a psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder and nervous condition, is granted as new evidence has been submitted. Service connection for lumbar disc disease secondary to service-connected labyrinthitis is also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that his preexisting psychiatric condition did not worsen during service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver was denied. The Board found that from July 29, 2004 to September 6, 2005, his hepatitis C did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation. From September 7, 2005 through the present, excluding April 7, 2006 through March 8, 2007, his hepatitis C met the criteria for a 10 percent evaluation. For the period from April 7, 2006 through March 8, 2007, he was entitled to a 20 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability is manifested by mild callus formation and corns, resulting in a 10 percent evaluation. The claim for service connection for PTSD due to personal trauma was not addressed properly as the Veteran did not provide detailed information about his alleged stressor event.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of VA examination and additional records, as well as new VCAA compliant notice regarding PTSD.

The RO's December 1996 decision did not consider a claim for TDIU, which was reasonably raised by the evidence of record. The Veteran had already been granted service connection and awarded a rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and arranging for VA examinations to assess the nature and extent of his disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and granted it. The claims for service connection for bronchial asthma and basal cell carcinoma were dismissed due to withdrawal of appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel and treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to determine if PTSD or an acquired psychiatric disorder is related to military service, and determining whether the Veteran's cervical strain is related to combat trauma.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that his preexisting psychiatric condition did not worsen during service.