Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2011

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding records from SSA and VA medical centers, as well as providing the appellant with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records, scheduling a psychiatric examination, and scheduling an additional VA examination for the service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD, has been received. The Veteran is now entitled to a determination on his claim of service connection.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against finding any residuals of an in-service left leg injury or fracture, and thus service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and consideration of new evidence, including records from the Veteran's former employer and VA clinical records. The TDIU claim is considered inextricably intertwined with the service connection claims.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence does not show a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is related to service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA records before February 2005 and reviewing the results of any fecal blood tests. The claim will be adjudicated again after this additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and alcohol dependence. The Board found that there was no credible evidence to support the claimed in-service stressors or a link between current psychiatric conditions and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus. The claim for an eye disorder was not addressed in this decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed PTSD and acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The residuals of a lower extremity cold weather injury were also not related to an in-service disease or injury, including residuals of frostbite.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and mental disorder (to include PTSD) are not service-connected as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for schizophrenia and a back disability, but has determined that these claims are not well-grounded in law due to the lack of evidence showing that the disabilities were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder, was already service connected based on his experience(s) during active military service. The preponderance of the competent medical evidence reflects that the most appropriate diagnosis for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is major depressive disorder and not PTSD.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and fibromyalgia are all granted. The Veteran experienced traumatic events during his service in the Persian Gulf War, which led to a diagnosis of PTSD. His fibromyalgia is considered an undiagnosed illness related to his service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including leishmaniasis, fatigue, memory loss, night sweats, bleeding gums, lung/respiratory problems, skin rash, sinusitis, sleep apnea, diverticulosis coli with diarrhea, joint pain to the low back and lower extremities, heart problems, psychiatric pain disorder, headaches, and bilateral eye disorder. The effective date for service connection of PTSD remains October 5, 1994.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to verify his claimed stressors and obtain a VA examination to determine if he has an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as a result of service.

The Board denied service connection for asthma, schizophrenia (claimed as chronic acquired psychiatric disorder), and a left knee disorder due to the preponderance of evidence not showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to afford her appropriate opportunity for VA examinations and to obtain additional pertinent treatment records. The case will be further reviewed after these actions are completed.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a diagnosis of either condition.

The Board determined that the criteria for an award of a 100% schedular evaluation for schizophrenia were met as of December 11, 1996. The effective date was set at December 11, 2007.