Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2012

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, related to his active service. The Board also found that the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran has residuals of a head injury, to include dizziness, anger and irritability, and sleep disturbance, related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and clarification of medical opinions regarding hearing loss, tinnitus, right lung cancer, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD due to personal assault, based on new and material evidence submitted since the last final denial.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for drug and alcohol dependence, bilateral shoulder disorder, headache disorder, kidney disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, disturbances of motivation and mood), loss of smell, scars of the feet, and right eye disorder as they are not shown to have had their clinical onset during service or to be caused by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, which may include PTSD. The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral eye disability and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (bipolar disorder). The decision is based on new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and a psychiatric disorder, including depression. The claim remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and found that his current psychological problems are not related to his military service. The reduction of his bilateral knee disability rating from 20 percent to 10 percent was proper.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board also found that the Veteran's current anxiety and depressive disorders are proximately due to his service-connected right shoulder/chest disability, and thus grants the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and a seizure disorder was denied. The Board found that the preexisting psychiatric disorder did not aggravate during service and was not caused by service. For the seizure disorder, there is no evidence of its onset in service or any other presumptive basis.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder and thus is not entitled to service connection for a psychiatric disorder.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The evidence now shows that the Veteran experienced a stressor related to his military service in Vietnam and was diagnosed with PTSD as a result. As such, the claim is granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder. The underlying claims for right knee disorder and TDIU are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for financial assistance in the purchase of specially adapted housing was denied as he does not meet any of the criteria for such benefits due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran seeks a TDIU rating prior to February 13, 2009 for his service-connected paranoid schizophrenia. The case is being remanded for additional development including an examination and review of the medical records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for a psychiatric disability and left ear hearing loss are being remanded due to missing records. The VA is required to attempt to obtain relevant medical records from the Veteran's treatment providers.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing at the RO due to the Veteran's request, and will not make any determination on the merits of the service connection claim until this is done.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD with bipolar 2 disorder and hypomanic (previously evaluated as schizophrenia, unspecified), was granted effective from November 18, 2009. His claim for service connection for tinnitus was also granted effective from the same date.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cognitive and acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as depression. The evidence submitted since the last final denial of the claim raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.