Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2010

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as the Board finds that his current diagnosis of PTSD is associated with in-service stressors related to fear of hostile military activity.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for his left ankle disability was granted, with a 20% rating effective March 20, 2007. The issues of service connection for a left knee disability, chest pain, and PTSD remain unresolved.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, effective October 27, 1999. The Board found that the disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple claims for service connection and evaluation of various disabilities, including a right wrist cyst, left knee disability, psychiatric condition, PTSD, joint pain, rash, and eye/sinus infection. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to address these issues.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia with right-sided headaches. The claim is now considered for further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depression, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently present acquired psychiatric disorders. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, a left hip disorder, and a low back disorder are all granted. The claims for numbness of the hands and feet are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, finding it to be directly related to his military service.

The Board has vacated its March 3, 2009 decision denying service connection for a psychiatric disorder and remanded the issue to obtain additional information from the Veteran's Social Security Administration records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, specifically schizoaffective disorder, was incurred in service and is granted service connection.

The VA determined that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder incurred in service. The Veteran's claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension, psychiatric disorder, and heart disease were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for fatigue, fevers and chills, night sweats, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including generalized anxiety disorder) have been granted. The service connection is based on new evidence that reopened the previously denied claim.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for schizophrenia, undifferentiated type. The Veteran's request to reopen his claim is granted.

The Board has recharacterized the issue on appeal as one for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The Veteran's claim is being remanded due to insufficient evidence to corroborate his claimed stressor and incomplete personnel records.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a compensation and pension examination to determine the nature and etiology of his seizure disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right shoulder disorder and granted service connection based on direct evidence. The Board also found that service connection was not warranted for arthritis of bilateral hands or an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depression).

The Veteran seeks service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Board has ordered additional development to obtain VA and VetCenter treatment records related to the Veteran's mental health issues.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD and depression has been granted. The claim for hypertension, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, is pending and will be addressed in a separate decision.