Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2011

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new and material evidence submitted since the July 1998 denial. The case is remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, due to a lack of credible supporting evidence corroborating in-service stressors.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and PTSD due to a lack of evidence showing an in-service stressor or a link between current symptoms and the claimed events. The Veteran's testimony about his experiences was found not credible, and there is no clear and convincing evidence to rebut it.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to procedural defects and need for additional evidence. The case will be readjudicated after all requested development is completed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression, did not have onset during service or is not related to his active duty. The back disability was also found not to be linked to service. Lastly, the skin condition other than pseudofolliculitis barbae was deemed unrelated to service.,The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD and depression), a back disability, and a skin disability other than pseudofolliculitis barbae were denied by the Board.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have onset during service and is granted service connection.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that it was incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a bilateral knee disorder have been reopened, but the evidence does not support these claims. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. However, the claim for a bilateral knee disorder was denied as there is no medical nexus between the current condition and active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including consideration of new regulations pertaining to PTSD and a psychiatric examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder are all related to his military service. The claim for dental treatment is denied as there is no evidence of loss of teeth due to in-service trauma.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA examination to address the Veteran's spine and hip disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's paranoid schizophrenia is causally related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate the appellant's claims, including obtaining VA and SSA records, conducting a psychiatric examination, and providing VCAA notice.

The Veteran's PTSD was not incurred in service and is not related to his military service.,There is no evidence of an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD during or within one year after service, and the claim cannot be granted based on continuity of symptomatology.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder and a psychiatric disorder other than posttraumatic stress disorder, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's schizophrenia, a diagnosed condition, is as likely as not attributable to traumatic events during his military service. As such, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including schizophrenia and PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) and a digestive disorder were denied. The Board found no evidence of current diagnoses or in-service stressors related to the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, back pain, bunions, groin disorder, diverticulum, and PTSD were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected right knee disability was denied by the RO. The RO found that the Veteran's right knee did not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including PTSD, gastrointestinal problems, and acquired psychiatric disabilities are granted.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disorder, including whether it was manifested during active service.