Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2011

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is related to service, and thus granted service connection for this condition. The claim for a bilateral shin disability was denied as there was no diagnosed disability. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability remains pending.

The Board found that the appellant's current psychiatric disorder, paranoid schizophrenia, was presumed to have been incurred in active service.,The Board also found that the appellant's sickle cell trait with G6PD deficiency did not pre-exist his active service and was not aggravated therein.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need to verify her claimed stressors and consider a recent amendment to VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for further development and examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), and type II diabetes mellitus was denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability meeting the criteria for a hearing loss disability under VA regulations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis of the spine, and schizophrenia. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions began in service or are causally related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as schizophrenia, was incurred during his active service.

The Board denied all issues on appeal, including service connection claims and a claim for an increased rating for the Veteran's low back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for paranoid schizophrenia based on aggravation during active duty. The Veteran's spouse is currently in need of aid and attendance due to her vision impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of schizophrenia, paranoid type, with depression is related to her military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has ordered a remand to consider the Veteran's claims for service connection for various psychiatric and organic mental disorders, including PTSD and dementia. The examination should address whether any of these conditions are related to service or drug addiction.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that any in-service behavioral problems are related to a currently diagnosed psychotic disorder, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, cerebral vascular accident, and acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) are not related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development. The claim for SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100% rating for service-connected psychiatric disability was denied as there is no evidence of a formal or informal claim prior to October 25, 2002. The earliest effective date available based on the record is October 16, 2001.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected schizophrenic reaction, simple type is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and updated treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and did not address the claim for increased evaluation of right shoulder disability due to lack of a clear service connection issue.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration (SSA) records and readjudicating the service connection claim.