Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2010

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and verifying the Veteran's claimed stressor. The Veteran should also be given an opportunity to provide more specific information about his PTSD stressors.

The Board has granted service connection for a scar over the left eyebrow, finding that it is due to an injury sustained during active service. The Veteran's claims for service connection for psoriatic arthritis and a psychiatric disability (including PTSD) are remanded for further development.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development to obtain relevant records and provide the Veteran with appropriate VA examinations to determine if any current skin disorder of the right foot or acquired psychiatric disorder are related to a period of active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records and scheduling an updated VA examination to determine if any current acquired psychiatric disability is related to active service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder, is found to be related to her military service. Service connection for cervical/vaginal inflammation and a disorder manifested by dizziness are denied.

The Board has granted reopening of the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of head trauma and entitlement to a permanent and total rating for pension purposes, based on new evidence. The Veteran is also scheduled for a VA examination to determine if his alcohol abuse in service was related to an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), arthritis, left wrist sprain, and lumbar strain have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD in accordance with VA regulations and there is no current diagnosis of PTSD. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding of service connection for any psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The VA determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was not incurred in active military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final denial. The Board found that her current psychiatric disorder is not related to active duty, as there was no aggravation of a pre-existing condition.

The Board denied service connection for head injury residuals, to include a chronic psychiatric disorder, in a November 2002 decision. The evidence submitted since then is not new and material.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is proximately due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board finds that service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is warranted on a secondary basis.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disability and acquired psychiatric disability were not incurred in or aggravated by her active service. The pre-existing conditions are presumed to have existed prior to service, and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence to disprove this presumption.

The Board found no evidence of a psychiatric disability during service or within the one-year presumptive period, and concluded that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records, verifying stressors, and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claims of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, respiratory disorder, and hearing loss was granted. Service connection for IBS with diverticulosis was also established, with an initial evaluation of 10 percent assigned effective from August 17, 2005.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing at the RO. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than post-traumatic stress disorder, to include psychosis remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disability, including PTSD, was not incurred or aggravated during his active service and cannot be presumed due to exposure to Agent Orange. The Veteran's current mental health conditions are not linked to any in-service stressors as verified by official records.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities, finding that there is no evidence to support a diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran's symptoms were attributed to carpal tunnel syndrome and possible radiculopathy.,Service connection was also denied for kidney failure, acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD or anxiety attacks), and gastrointestinal disability (Crohn's disease).

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including gathering of pertinent VA treatment records and attempting to verify the Veteran's reported in-service stressors. The Veteran is also scheduled for a VA mental disorders examination.

The Veteran seeks service connection for schizophrenia. The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining the Veteran's service personnel records and arranging for a psychiatric examination to determine if his current condition is related to his military service.