Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2010

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for schizophrenia and finds that it was incurred in active service, granting the Veteran's claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete development of his in-service stressors and exposure history, as well as the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, disabilities of the legs and knees including osteoarthritis, and an acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD due to lack of credible evidence of onset or continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating and an earlier effective date for TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected psychiatric disability prior to October 10, 1997 or for an earlier effective date for TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including as a result of exposure to Agent Orange, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and verification of his National Guard service.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the analysis and the need for additional evidence, including a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current psychiatric diagnoses are related to his military service.

The Veteran's initial claim of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was denied. The Board also found that there is no legal basis for the assignment of a schedular evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus. For the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, the Veteran's claim was denied as there is no persuasive evidence of continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining information about the Veteran's claimed in-service personal abuse.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining additional medical evidence and scheduling appropriate VA examinations to address the issues raised.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and finds that the Veteran's current back pain is related to his military service. The claim for left knee disability, skin disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and hepatitis B was not supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder was denied as there is no evidence of current diagnosis. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and right knee strain, finding that these conditions were aggravated by active service. Service connection was denied for bilateral hip strain and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his lumbar spine disability and cervical spine disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was aggravated during his active service. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded for further development.

The Board has ordered a remand for the Veteran to be scheduled for a videoconference hearing and to state which RO rating decision or decisions contain clear and unmistakable error. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle strain with degenerative joint disease as secondary to left ankle strain with degenerative joint disease. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, is also service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case to comply with a Joint Motion for Remand, which requires an adequate examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current substance-induced mood disorder is related to his service-connected low back disorder and grants service connection for this condition effective November 3, 2002.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is service-connected, and he was granted a higher initial rating for his ulcerative colitis. The effective date of the grant of service connection for ulcerative colitis remains unchanged at May 3, 2002.