Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new examination and review of records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being reviewed.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the Veteran's service connection claims, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's PTSD claim will be remanded for a VA examination to verify the in-service stressor and assess whether his current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service. His hypertension claim will also be remanded as it is unclear if it is secondary to his PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and a cervical spine disability remain pending and require further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for headaches. The claims for fibromyalgia, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and drug sensitivity secondary to fibromyalgia or an acquired psychiatric disorder are being REMANDED for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication due to incomplete medical records, lack of adequate examination reports, and inconsistencies in diagnoses.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, and has denied the increased rating claim for right wrist disability. The Veteran's TDIU claim is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board determined that the appellant did not have a period of service qualifying as continuous active service and found no clear and unmistakable evidence that his currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder preexisted service. The Board also concluded that an acquired psychiatric disorder was not present in service or shown to be causally related to any disease, injury, or incident in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including securing VA treatment records and arranging a psychiatric examination. The case will also be addressed to determine whether the Veteran should receive a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's schizophrenia was not manifested by total occupational and social impairment prior to September 30, 2002. The RO denied an increased rating for the service-connected schizophrenic disorder.

The Veteran's current diagnosed schizophrenia and depressive disorder are not considered to be service-connected, as the in-service mental problems were attributed to a pre-existing inadequate personality and low IQ.

The Board determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including as bipolar disorder and manic depression.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims of service connection for dental trauma, low back disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The original denials were based on a lack of evidence showing these conditions in service.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the January 1981 decision that denied restoration of service connection for schizophrenia.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder not otherwise specified (NOS), cognitive disorder NOS, depression, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as right ear hearing loss. The appeal is considered 'denied' because there was insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and related conditions. The Board found that there was no credible evidence supporting the claimed in-service stressors and thus could not establish a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disability, low back disability, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disorder were not supported by evidence showing a direct relationship to his military service. The conditions did not meet criteria for presumptive service connection based on exposure to herbicides or other factors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD due to the need for additional evidence, including a VA examination. The appeal is characterized as encompassing both matters set forth on the title page.

The Veteran is granted service connection for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the bilateral knees with degenerative changes, psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder and major depressive disorder), DJD of the lumbosacral spine, and tinnitus.,Service connection is established based on a legal presumption due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional service records and for a VA examination. The issue remains whether the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, that is related to his military service.