Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a psychiatric examination and review of all relevant records. The case will be readjudicated after the additional development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include schizophrenia and granted her claim. The Board also found that she had chronic bronchitis, but did not assign a rating or effective date as there was no evidence showing a current disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of any non-PTSD psychiatric disability, including whether it is related to military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for hepatitis and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding new and material evidence. The claim of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a low back disorder have been granted. The initial compensable evaluations for scars of the right hand and pseudofolliculitis barbae are also granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. Service connection is established for a low back disorder, including sciatica of the bilateral lower extremities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. However, there is no evidence to support her claim for hepatitis C or special monthly compensation based on anatomical loss of a creative organ.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral ankle, hip, leg, hearing loss, lung disability (other than pulmonary tuberculosis), skin disability, psychiatric disability (PTSD), and erectile dysfunction. The evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include depression and anxiety, and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a right middle finger fracture. The remaining claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a left eye disorder are remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that new and material evidence supports reopening his previously denied claim.

The Veteran does not have a current mental disorder that was incurred or aggravated during active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and is remanding the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to allow for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, hearing loss, tinnitus, thoracic spine disorder, and right leg disorder are granted. The low back disability claim is also granted with an initial rating of 20 percent prior to July 27, 2005 and from September 1, 2005.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for verification of in-service stressors and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on being housebound due to service-connected disabilities was denied as he does not meet the statutory or regulatory threshold for SMC.

The Veteran's chronic paranoid schizophrenia has resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess his back and psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, is found to be related to his military service. His bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to service. The Veteran's tinea pedis and tinea cruris are granted a 30 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is service-connected. The issue of service connection for a liver disability remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for additional compensation for a dependent spouse and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The issue of hepatitis C was also addressed but not decided due to its inextricability with the other issues.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and his left knee disability is also rated as 10 percent disabling. The Veteran contends that these disabilities are more severe than the current ratings suggest.,The Veteran has not provided any evidence to support a higher rating for either of his knee disabilities.