Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2012

The Board has granted service connection for organic brain syndrome (manifested by dementia) and schizophrenia. The Veteran's current diagnoses are linked to his military service, with the examiner noting that the boxing injuries sustained during service likely contributed to the development of both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder contributed to his death, as evidenced by the dementia with history of psychosis that initiated the events resulting in his death. The Board finds that this condition materially contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service and post-service medical records, clarifying the examiner's statements regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, and readjudicating the claim.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is found to be related to service. The issue of residuals of a cranial injury and acquired psychiatric disability will require further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service personnel records and a need for further examination to determine the etiology of any current psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Board has ordered the claims to be remanded for additional development and readjudication, including a VA examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include paranoid schizophrenia, is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical records and a VA examination.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeals on several issues due to his withdrawal of those claims. The remaining issues are related to service connection for hypertension, a psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and entitlement to TDIU.

The Board found that the cause of death, esophageal hemorrhage and cancer, was not caused by or a result of service-connected conditions (post-operative residuals of right thoracotomy for excision of neurilemoma of the pulmonary apex and schizophrenia).

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to address the Veteran's skin disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The psychiatric disability claim will be remanded as it was not addressed in the original decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently have bilateral hearing loss or a right shoulder disorder for which service connection is warranted. The claim for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as anxiety) remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claim. The Veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy during military service and credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor sufficient to support a diagnosis of PTSD has not been demonstrated.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, erectile dysfunction, and a skin disorder. The claim for residuals of dental trauma was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen his claim of whether his service character barred VA benefits, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disorder and has granted service connection for adjustment disorder. The claims for skin cancer and PTSD remain pending.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD, will be reconsidered due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is REMANDED for additional development including a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection on appeal and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a reopening of the claim. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is now considered on its merits.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than manic depressive psychosis is being remanded due to the intertwining nature with her previously denied claim of service connection for manic depressive psychosis. The AOJ must consider whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen this claim, as well as assess any potential personal assault stressors related to military service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, an eye disorder, a disability manifested by chest pains, and low back disability. The Veteran's vertigo was not found to be related to service or a service-connected condition.