Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the appellant's schizophrenia, paranoid type, first manifested prior to his 18th birthday and he was permanently incapable of self-support due to this mental defect. Therefore, the appellant is recognized as a helpless child.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional evidence and a VA psychiatric examination to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for his psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for residuals of prostate cancer was denied. The TDIU claim is also pending and requires further examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that diabetes mellitus did not originate in service or for many years thereafter and is not related to any incident during active service, and the acquired psychiatric disorder did not originate in service or for many years thereafter, is not related to any incident during active service and is not directly related to any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was noted at entry into service and is presumed to have existed prior to service. It was not aggravated by military service.,Left ear hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred in service.,Seizure disorder was not diagnosed during the appeal period.,PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by military service and is not considered a compensable disability for VA purposes.,Tinnitus was not related to service. Lung disability, including granulomatous disease and bilateral pulmonary nodules, was also not related to service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.,Thoracolumbar spine disability and cervical spine disability are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's PTSD and acquired psychiatric disorder are related to service, including any in-service stressors.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and Social Security Administration records. A new VA examination is also required to assess the current severity of his schizophrenia.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and further evaluation of his medical history.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, diabetes mellitus type II, and CAD due to lack of evidence showing onset during service or within one year post-service. The Veteran's assertions regarding herbicide exposure have not been supported by relevant records.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD, but denied the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The Veteran's PTSD was not related to his military service.

The Board has ordered additional development to clarify the appellant's service dates and obtain her National Guard treatment records, as well as Social Security Administration records. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including posttraumatic stress disorder) and schizophrenia are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding in-service stressors and current psychiatric disorders.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder is not related to his active duty service, did not manifest within one year of separation from service, and is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right knee and hip disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, schizoaffective disorder, and depression, has been denied as the evidence does not support a current diagnosis of any such disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and examination to determine if he experienced in-service sexual assault stressors that could support a PTSD diagnosis, and whether any psychiatric disability other than PTSD is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records, as well as further development of his claims.

The Veteran's cause of death, septic shock due to intra-abdominal infection, was not caused or contributed substantially or materially by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The service connection claims remain pending.

The Board is deferring a decision on the claim of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine until the application to reopen the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder is finally adjudicated. The case is REMANDED for further development and consideration.