Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a psychiatric examination to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and low back disorder were not incurred or aggravated by active service, nor may they be presumed to have been so incurred. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for either condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the service treatment records and a possible misidentification of the Veteran's location. The claim will be adjudicated on a direct basis if Exhibit 1 is deemed unreliable.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to address whether the Veteran's schizophrenia and/or depression are aggravated by his service-connected acne keloids.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and reviewing the claims file to ensure all necessary actions have been taken.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the inextricability of his Hepatitis C and chronic urticaria claims. The VA examiner should consider the Veteran's assertions of in-service depression symptoms and treatment, and provide a new opinion on whether any current acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Veteran's dysthymia has been rated as 50 percent disabling from May 12, 1986 to November 2, 2001 and 70 percent thereafter. The claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability did not have onset in service or within one year of service and was not caused or aggravated by his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and increased rating for a lumbar spine disability has been withdrawn. The claim of an earlier effective date for the right knee disability is dismissed as it constitutes a freestanding claim. The psychiatric disability does not meet the criteria for a higher than 30 percent rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a seizure disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The claim for service connection for a seizure disorder is pending with an unknown disposition.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection for right hip disability, and psychiatric disability were denied. The denial of the psychiatric disability claim is due to a lack of evidence showing it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a social and industrial field survey report and translating Spanish language documents. The claims will be adjudicated again considering 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Board found that the appellant's current psychiatric disability, diagnosed as PTSD, dysthymia, and paranoid schizophrenia, had its inception during active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development of records and further examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and need for clarification on service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and ensuring proper consideration of his Social Security Administration disability benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's service records and need for additional evidence, including SSA disability records. The appeal will be reconsidered with consideration of new regulations regarding PTSD and ischemic heart disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is related to service, and grants this claim. The issue of service connection for PTSD remains pending.

The Board finds that the Veteran's low back injury is not service-connected as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service, and the medical opinion indicates it is less likely than not related to his service. The claim for depression remains pending.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral leg and knee conditions are found to be related to his military service, with the psychiatric condition stemming from depression in service and the knee issues likely pre-existing or not aggravated by service.