Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2012

The Board found no chronic acquired psychiatric disorder was first manifested on active duty or within the first post-service year, and the preponderance of the competent and credible evidence is against a finding that any currently diagnosed mental disorder is related to service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is related to a verified in-service stressor and has been granted service connection. The Board also found that the Veteran's sleep apnea may be secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for organic brain syndrome has been reopened. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including dysthymia, was not incurred in or aggravated by military service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder is not etiologically related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain VA outpatient treatment records and readjudicate the issue of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The case is being remanded for further development to determine if there are in-service stressors that support a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder and whether any current psychiatric disorders other than PTSD are related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disorder, psychiatric disorders (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety), right knee disorder, left knee disorder, GERD with Barrett's esophagus, and hemorrhoids. The appeals are dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disability did not have onset during active service or within one year of separation for active service, and is not otherwise etiologically related to his active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a heart disability was denied.

The Veteran's chronic acquired psychiatric disability, primarily diagnosed as major depressive disorder, is found to be related to his experiences during World War II and service connection is granted.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and schizophrenia, are related to his service in Vietnam. The claim is granted.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that there was no evidence to support this diagnosis and noting previous diagnoses of other conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, fibromyalgia, and gastrointestinal disorder (IBS) were denied. The claim for increased evaluation of TMJ dysfunction was also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder did not have onset during or as a result of active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that there is a need to verify the Veteran's periods of service and obtain his complete medical records, including mental health clinic or mental hygiene records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, skin disorder, and hypertension are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran does not have a knee disability, neck disability, left shoulder disability, or acquired psychiatric disorder that were caused by his service.

The Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia is found to be of such severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a separate chronic headache disorder or other disabilities warranting separate ratings. The current rating for sinusitis is 30 percent and does not meet criteria for an increased rating.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for schizophrenia and finds that it was incurred during active service, granting the Veteran's claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection and TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a follow-up opinion from the November 2009 VA examiner.