Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records.

The Board found no credible evidence supporting the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and concluded that his psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, was not incurred or aggravated by service. The spinal stenosis and spondylosis were also denied as there was insufficient evidence linking them to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, claimed as schizophrenia and schizoid personality disorder with passive-dependent personality. The appeal is denied.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the inadequacies of a previous examination, including not discussing all disabilities and their impact on employment. The Veteran is required to provide information about any VA or private healthcare providers who have treated him since 2006.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bruxism, TMJ, and anxiety disorder are related to service. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that it is as likely as not that the Veteran's schizophrenia had its onset during his military service, and therefore grants service connection for schizophrenia.

The Board found no verified military stressor event, and thus denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD). The Veteran's claim of diabetes mellitus, type II, is also denied due to lack of evidence supporting a nexus to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The left leg varicose veins are currently rated as 20 percent disabling, effective June 13, 2008.,Claims to reopen for mitral valve prolapse, headaches, generalized joint pain, right leg varicose veins, bipolar disorder, PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than bipolar disorder and PTSD have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a personal hearing before the Board at his local RO.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for metatarsalgia, bilateral feet (previously claimed as muscle pain) is dismissed due to the benefit already being in effect. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder, headaches, and sleep apnea are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating, finding that her service-connected disabilities prevent her from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has addressed the Veteran's claims for bilateral foot disability and an acquired mental disorder, to include depressive disorder NOS. The appeals are REMANDED as there is insufficient development of evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection and TDIU is being remanded due to insufficient evidence, particularly regarding the onset of his psychiatric disorders during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and low back disorder. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder was not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right and left ankle disabilities. The Veteran's PTSD claim was denied as his statements linking it to a ship incident were contradicted by the ship's history.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, residuals of a head injury, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claims were not reopened or remanded further.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including pulmonary edema, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and other disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board found insufficient competent and probative evidence to establish a relationship between current psychiatric disorders and service or service-connected disability, resulting in the denial of the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various disabilities including a respiratory disability, sinusitis, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, lumbar radiculopathy, postoperative residuals of a cervical spine injury, left arm and shoulder disability, an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), and bilateral pes planus. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for sinusitis. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine on a secondary basis. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for lumbar radiculopathy on a secondary basis. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for postoperative residuals of a cervical spine injury, status post fusion on a secondary basis. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for left arm and shoulder disability on a secondary basis. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD). The claims are being remanded to allow for further development of the claim, including consideration of PTSD under Clemons v. Shinseki, 23 Vet. App. 1 (2009).,The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral pes planus based on a presumption of soundness due to the absence of pes planus at entrance into service and exposure to asbestos and tear gas during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left wrist disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The decision found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a left wrist disability.