Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2010

The Veteran seeks service connection for PTSD, which he contends resulted from his experiences in service. The Board finds that the Veteran's testimony is credible and remands the case to determine whether his claimed stressor is sufficient to cause PTSD.

The Board granted a 70 percent evaluation for schizophrenia, effective from the filing of the claim.

The Board has determined that further development is required for compliance with the instructions of the joint motion, including obtaining additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and head injury residuals.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA psychiatric examination and sending notice to the correct address.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and hip disorders, as well as for migraines, photophobia, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and PTSD), and a stomach disorder. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for VA examinations.

The Board has found that the appellant's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, and a left shoulder disability must be remanded due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD based on personal assault, was denied as her statements without objective corroborating evidence were insufficient to verify the actual occurrence of her alleged in-service stressor.

The Veteran's income exceeds the maximum annual pension rate (MAPR), but he claims unreimbursed medical expenses that reduce his income to an allowable rate. The case is REMANDED for clarification of medical expenses and proper accounting of income and expenses.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), arthritis of the elbows, and eye disability were all denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, a psychiatric disorder (to include paranoid personality disorder), and a visual disability have been denied. The claim of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a neurological disorder has been granted with a 10% evaluation.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder due to head trauma, including schizophrenia, needs further development. The claims file will be reviewed again after obtaining additional medical records from Social Security Administration and New York City Department of Correction.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for blisters of the hands is denied as they are a manifestation of his service-connected porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT). The acquired psychiatric disorder is not found to be related to service or service-connected conditions. The initial rating in excess of 10 percent for hepatitis C and the effective date earlier than January 30, 2004 for compensation pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 are also denied.

The Board has granted an effective date of October 28, 1982 for the award of service connection for schizophrenia based on new and material evidence received after a previous denial in 1982.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) and alcoholism have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD that conforms to the DSM-IV, and his claim for secondary service connection for alcoholism has also been denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete examination and treatment records, as well as the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right shoulder disability, low back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, left eye disability (post-surgical scar), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, pterygium of the eyes, and a low back disability have been denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection for the low back disability has also been denied.

The Board is remanding the case to ensure that all development requested under the VCAA has been completed, and for proper notice regarding the specific information and evidence needed to reopen the claim of service connection for cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a renal mass, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) was denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has determined that an effective date of July 15, 2002 should be established for the grant of service connection for rhinitis. The Veteran's claim is granted with respect to this issue.