Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2010

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder, as well as his claims for hearing loss of both ears. The Veteran was granted service connection for left ear hearing loss but assigned a noncompensable rating. His diabetes mellitus with bilateral cataracts and erectile dysfunction were rated at 20 percent. Separate ratings for erectile dysfunction and bilateral cataracts were denied.

The Board has found that the Veteran's chronic schizophrenia is related to his military service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance or being housebound is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his current disability status and ability to perform daily activities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or post-service, and the current depression is attributed to adjustment issues related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying a stressor. The Veteran's hepatitis C is being evaluated by a VA hepatologist to determine if it is related to military service due to unprotected sexual activity post-service. A psychiatric examination will be conducted to determine the existence and etiology of any current acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and a psychiatric disability other than PTSD (claimed as depression) were denied because the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and Reserve service records. The VA will determine if the Veteran's current back disability, gynecological disorder, or psychiatric disorder are related to her active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The claim for new and material evidence to reopen the service connection claims was also denied.

The Board found that there was clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the July 1994 rating decision denying service connection for a neuropsychiatric disorder. The effective date of service connection for schizophrenia is set at December 28, 1993, with no earlier date.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, respiratory disorder, psychiatric disorder, and hypertension, were denied as the evidence did not show a current disability related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and readjudicating the issues of a higher disability rating for the Veteran's psychiatric disorder and entitlement to TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and also denied secondary service connection for alcohol dependence. The Veteran's current diagnosis of panic disorder with agoraphobia was not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. His bilateral hearing loss was rated at 20 percent, peptic ulcer disease at 10 percent prior to September 11, 2008, and his skin disorder and psychiatric disorders were not found to be related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's schizophrenia disability, rated at 30 percent disabling, does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a psychiatric disorder, specifically, PTSD. The Board has recharacterized the issue to include any mental disability that may reasonably be encompassed by the claimant's description of the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD. The issue of whether service connection is warranted remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and prostate cancer, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.