Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2011

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed disorder of the bilateral ankles. The claim for service connection for bilateral ankle arthritis is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than April 11, 2001 for the grant of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder manifested by depression. The decision found that no legal basis existed to assign such a date.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions and records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for a skin condition, an acquired psychiatric disability (including depression and memory loss), and a heart condition. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied, and he received a noncompensable evaluation for his headaches prior to August 1, 2006. From that date onwards, he was granted a 30% evaluation for his headaches.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, dysthymic disorder, depression, and bulimia, is being remanded due to the need for additional development. The claim of service connection for tinnitus remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of competent evidence supporting his assertions and diagnoses.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied the remaining issues. Bilateral hearing loss is related to military service, while other conditions are not shown to be connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disability (depression) are related to her military service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that further action is required to verify the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and to obtain all relevant medical records. The claims for service connection for PTSD and psychiatric disability other than PTSD are being remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for schizophrenia and granted it, finding that new evidence submitted since the previous denial relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim (manifestation during or within one year after service discharge).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee scar, arthritis of the pelvic bones, and shin splints were denied. The Board found that there was no current evidence of these conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss disability, tinnitus, psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD and dysthymic/depressive disorder), head trauma residuals, or hypertension in service. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected undifferentiated type schizophrenia was rated at 50 percent prior to August 17, 2008. The Board found that the disability picture more closely approximated a 70 percent rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury that would support the claims. The dental and eye conditions are not considered compensable under VA regulations.

The Board has granted service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety with short-term memory loss and irritability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development, including verifying stressor events and obtaining service personnel records. The VA will also schedule examinations to address the etiology of his acquired psychiatric disability and hepatitis C.

The Board has granted service connection for a schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type. The Veteran's low back and left elbow disabilities are being remanded to obtain VA treatment records and contemporaneous examinations.

The Board found no evidence of a left knee disability or psychiatric disability related to service. The Veteran's current conditions are not considered service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verifying ACDUTRA service dates and scheduling VA examinations to address the appellant's claims. The issues include reopening previously denied claims of bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and right foot disability, as well as determining whether new evidence supports reopening other claims.