Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and right ear hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, tinnitus, a left leg disorder, a back disorder (claimed as back arthritis), and a respiratory disorder. The decision concluded that there was no current diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-IV criteria and that the link between current symptoms and an in-service stressor could not be established.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding medical records and the need for a VA examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's death was due to suicide resulting from depression associated with his service-connected psychiatric disability (schizophrenia, undifferentiated type). With resolution of reasonable doubt in favor of the appellant, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension on a secondary basis and his claim for service connection for psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, need further development due to incomplete verification of in-service stressors.

The Board denied service connection for psychiatric disorder, PTSD, left wrist disorder, right wrist disorder, sexual dysfunction, and sleep disorder. The Veteran's claims were not supported by competent evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claimed PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service. The VA examiner found no verified stressor and the diagnosis of PTSD is based on a history of sexual trauma during military service.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence establishing a diagnosis of PTSD based on an in-service traumatic event or stressor, and the weight of the competent medical evidence is against finding a nexus between the post-service psychiatric disorder and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and paranoid-type schizophrenia, is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and an examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was granted a 50% rating effective September 1, 2006. The IBS claim was denied. The TDIU issue is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a 100% disability evaluation for the acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia, finding that it did not begin in service or within one year of discharge and was not otherwise related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for a determination based on service treatment records as to whether the Veteran actually had a pre-existing spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage. The claim will be further evaluated after this determination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting medical examinations to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected hepatitis disability is found to be the cause of his current bladder, prostate, pancreas, skin and stomach disorders.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining prison records and scheduling VA examinations to address service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's tension/migraine headaches are manifested by characteristic prostrating attacks occurring one to two times per month, warranting a 30 percent rating. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 30 percent disabling.

The Board denied service connection for pes planus and an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that the Veteran's pes planus preexisted service and was not aggravated during service. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability was also denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizoaffective disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and clarification of whether a hearing should be scheduled.