Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to a verified in-service stressor involving personal sexual assault, and therefore grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran did not sustain a left leg fracture during service, and his current lumbar spine disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claim for organic heart disease was denied as well.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The acquired psychiatric disorder is also found to be related to the service-connected head injury with residual headaches and dizziness.

The Veteran's pre-existing psychiatric disorder was permanently worsened during service, and the Board finds that she is entitled to service connection for a psychiatric disorder.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and depression, as new and material evidence has been received. However, on de novo review, the claim is denied because there is no evidence that any current acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service or to any event therein.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a connection between his in-service stressors and current symptoms. However, the cervical spine disorder is found to be related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorders. The RO will also address the issue of hypertension.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include schizophrenia, in January 2006. The additional evidence submitted since then is not new and material to reopen the claim.

The Board has determined that the VA mental health examination report is insufficient and requires an addendum to determine if any current mental disorder, including adjustment disorder with depressed mood, is causally or etiologically related to the Veteran's active service. The issue of a sleep disorder will also be inextricably intertwined with the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's personality disorder existed prior to service and was not aggravated by his active service, thus denying entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, have not been causally related to service, and did not manifest within one year of service separation. As such, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and schizophrenia, is being remanded due to the need for additional development. The Veteran failed to report for a VA examination scheduled in December 2010.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that his anxiety reaction was of service origin and that there is no evidence to support a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorder (paranoid schizophrenia) is considered to be directly related to his service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board found no probative evidence that the Veteran's right arm disorder is secondary to his service-connected residuals of stab wounds, and denied both claims for service connection on a secondary basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that his claimed in-service stressors were not verified and that his current psychiatric conditions did not have onset during his active service or are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining records from SSA and NPRC, verifying stressors, and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim is not decided on its merits yet.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a psychiatric disorder, which the Board finds requires additional development due to inadequate VA examination and need for updated medical records.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 30 percent, the highest available rating under Diagnostic Code 5301. The effective date for this rating has not been determined.

The Veteran's tension headaches result in a disability picture that more nearly approximates very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, warranting a 50 percent disability rating.