Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying stressors. The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD is also being addressed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and further adjudication of his claims.

The Board found no evidence of a current skin disability during service or until many years after discharge. The Veteran's belief that his skin disorder is related to in-service herbicide exposure was not supported by the medical evidence, and thus service connection for a skin disorder could not be granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to determine the severity of his psychiatric disorder and right knee disability. The claim will be reconsidered after all evidence has been obtained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically bipolar disorder, was aggravated by his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and clarifying the Veteran's allegations of sexual assault in service. The Veteran is also to be provided notice regarding personal assault claims under 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f)(3).

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's absence from a previously scheduled hearing and requests for a new hearing at the RO.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verifying all periods of active duty and inactive duty training with the Puerto Rico National Guard, conducting VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the appellant's current back, right knee, left knee, cardiovascular (hypertension), and psychiatric disorders, and providing appropriate notice on secondary service connection.

The Board will consider the issue of service connection for any diagnosed mental disorder, not just PTSD. The Veteran's case is being remanded to allow for further development and consideration.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric conditions, including PTSD, paranoid schizophrenia, and depression, were not related to his service or any in-service stressors. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed stressor of exposure to enemy fire is verified and finds a link between his diagnosed PTSD and this in-service stressor. Therefore, service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Board found it as likely as not that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is attributable to his active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for sinusitis and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence of these conditions during her active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was not incurred in or the result of active duty and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims to reopen service connection for schizophrenia and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for proper VCAA notice, verification of a stressor event, and further examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is being considered based on new evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current lower back disability and denied her claim for service connection. The decision also noted that she has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which is unrelated to her time in military service.

The Board has denied reopening the claim of service connection for hypertension. The Veteran's claim is being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and to seek verification of his claimed stressors related to his PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing due to his request and the need for additional development.

The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, as the Veteran did not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD.