Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a failure to comply with previous remand orders and potential application of new regulations regarding PTSD.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining outstanding service records and VA medical records, to determine if there is a nexus between the Veteran's current psychiatric disability and his active service or any related conditions.

The Veteran's schizophrenia was found to have onset more than two decades after service and is not related to his active duty service or a service connected disability. Service connection for PTSD has been granted, with an initial rating of 50 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, schizophrenia, major depression, anxiety disorder, rule out agoraphobia, and a nervous condition is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims file.

The Veteran's schizophrenia is currently rated at 70 percent, the highest schedular rating available. The VA examiner found that his symptoms met the criteria for a 70 percent evaluation due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's appeal for a disability evaluation greater than 70 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder is dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn his appeal.,The Veteran's appeal for an effective date earlier than November 6, 2000 for the grant of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine the etiology of any current psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated after all development is completed.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability is found to be aggravated by his service-connected migraine headaches, and the claim for secondary service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD due to MST. The evidence submitted since the prior denial is new and material, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and arranging for a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature, extent, onset, and etiology of any current psychiatric disorder found to be present.

The Board has determined that further development is required to determine the etiology of the Veteran's current low back, right ankle, and psychiatric disorders. The case will be remanded for examinations and additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) has been granted. The issue of whether new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim for bilateral hearing loss is considered reopened, but no rating or effective date has been assigned.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for proper notice regarding how to substantiate her claim of service connection for PTSD based on sexual trauma, and a potential VA examination.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is found to be caused by long-term use of Flagyl, a medication prescribed and overseen by VA providers. The Board finds that this condition was not reasonably foreseeable and grants compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a new VA audiology examination and an updated VCAA notice letter to inform the Veteran of the evidence necessary to substantiate his claims. The Veteran will be asked to provide any further information or evidence as may serve to support alleged stressors in service supportive of his PTSD claim.

The Veteran's service-connected catatonic schizophrenia has been rated at 10 percent since November 1956. The Board finds that the current symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are minimal and controlled by medication.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to make a decision on the Veteran's claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and arranging for examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine and acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, depression, and anxiety (panic), are at least as likely as not related to his military service. The Veteran was exposed to combat in Iraq, which is sufficient evidence for service connection under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1154(b).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new hearing at the RO.