Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2011

The Board has denied service connection for a heart disability and a psychiatric disability (depression) as they are not related to service or a service-connected condition.,No initial ratings have been assigned for headaches, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, or radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including obtaining in-service treatment records and VA/privately obtained medical records. The issues of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and skin disorder are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's schizophrenia was found to be permanently disabling on December 28, 2007. However, the appellant is not eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under Chapter 35 of Title 38 because she reached her 26th birthday before the effective date of the permanent and total disability rating.

The Veteran seeks service connection for PTSD, alleging that he experienced stressful events in service. The Board has remanded the case due to recent guidance from the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims regarding the evidentiary standard for establishing the required in-service stressor.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus and reopened his petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, on the basis of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be service-connected due to a stressor during his active duty in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations. The memory loss and insomnia are also considered as manifestations of an undiagnosed illness or chronic disability related to service. However, there is no evidence supporting a separate diagnosis for degenerative joint disease that can be attributed to an undiagnosed illness or other qualifying condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The case was remanded multiple times due to incomplete records and verification of stressors.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and ensuring proper procedural steps are taken regarding the veteran's son as his helpless child.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle, right knee, and skin disorder of the face disabilities. The Veteran's hypertension reduction from 20% to 10% was found proper.

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

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to January 26, 2000 for the grant of service connection for PTSD and/or a 70 percent evaluation for chronic, undifferentiated schizophrenia and PTSD have been granted.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also granted with an effective date of January 26, 2000.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, a right eye disability, and a pulmonary disability were denied. The claim for service connection for residuals of tonsillectomy was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a current acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically bipolar disorder. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the claim.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for service-connected acquired psychiatric disability is being remanded due to the need for another examination to distinguish symptoms attributable to an acquired psychiatric disorder from those solely attributable to alcohol dependence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, dementia, split personality disorder, and schizophrenia. As such, the claim is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for renal cancer, disability of the spine, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and a psychiatric disorder (PTSD) as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The VA denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to a lack of evidence showing a current disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a review of the claims folder by an examiner to determine if any acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to service. The case will be returned to the Board for readjudication.