Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2013

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including providing proper notice and readjudicating the claims to reopen service connection for lung or respiratory disorder and psychiatric disorder.

The Board determined that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claims for bilateral pes planus, acquired psychiatric disability (other than PTSD), a bilateral foot disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder. The claim of service connection for PTSD was remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, bilateral ankle disabilities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been denied. The Board found no credible evidence linking these conditions to his active service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease with right forminal stenosis at C6-C7, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and to schedule a videoconference hearing. The Veteran's claims include service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, pain, and a back disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia, claimed as a psychiatric disorder, was reopened but not granted. The claim for status-post tonsillectomy remains denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disability, including PTSD due to military sexual trauma, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied her claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's ankle/feet, back, neck, left shoulder, stomach/gastrointestinal, and psychiatric disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The kidney disorder was determined to be pre-existing and not aggravated during service.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for consideration of the claim on the merits due to a failure to report to a VA examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for schizophrenia. The Board finds that the Veteran's symptoms began during his military service or within one year after separation, and therefore grants service connection for schizophrenia.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and adjustment disorder, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD due to lack of re-experiencing or avoidance symptoms associated with the combat traumatic stressor. For the left knee disability, new and material evidence has been submitted but service connection is still denied. Bilateral hearing loss and post-operative scars were also denied.

The Board dismissed the appeal with respect to the claim of entitlement to an effective date earlier than January 27, 1994 for service connection for schizophrenia. The Court held that the appellant's only avenue for obtaining an earlier effective date is a request for revision of a prior decision based on clear and unmistakable error.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically posttraumatic stress disorder, is denied as there is no credible evidence linking the current condition to his period of active military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral foot disability, manifested as scarring, pain and callouses, was incurred during his active duty for training (ACDUTRA) period from August 1974 to December 1974. The acquired psychiatric disability claim is remanded due to incomplete medical records.

The Board has determined that the Appellant's acquired psychiatric disability, specifically paranoid type schizophrenia, was incurred during Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) and is therefore service-connected.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability and a left knee disability, finding that new evidence was not submitted to reopen these claims.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder. The issue is now on its merits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and dysthymic disorder) and bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The Board found no current disabilities, and the evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder can be decided.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and clarifying whether he desires an informal conference on all issues.