Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2013

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to be found competent to manage his funds, resolving a reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, and for a personality disorder claimed as 'nervousness'. The decision found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the previously denied claim of nervousness.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and thus no jurisdiction remains to adjudicate the merits of the claim.

The Board finds that the Veteran's headaches are related to service, and grants service connection for this condition. The acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) is not service connected as there was no verified stressor. A cognitive disorder is also not service-connected.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disorder that is directly related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for headaches, irritable stomach, erectile dysfunction, and a psychiatric disorder to include depression and a sleep disorder. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss is also on appeal. Additionally, the Veteran's request for an initial compensable disability evaluation for his healed scar of the left eyebrow (claimed as a facial laceration) is currently pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and inadequate notice.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no jurisdiction remains for further adjudication.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of all possible avenues to provide such an examination, including negotiation with prison officials.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have a diagnosed psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, related to his military service. The acquired psychiatric disorder was found to be unrelated to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, and hypertension were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of a verified in-service stressor for PTSD, and the current psychiatric disability is not related to service or a service-connected condition.,There is currently no diagnosis of hypertension due to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board found no evidence of diabetes mellitus or peripheral neuropathy in service, and the Veteran's statements regarding these conditions were not credible. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD) was denied as there is no verified stressor consistent with his active service. Coronary artery disease was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection for PTSD should be remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability rating and TDIU have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn his claims through his attorney.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for bilateral Achilles tendon injuries and left and right Achilles tendon injuries was also denied. Service connection for seizure disorder was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include schizoaffective disorder and depression with psychotic features. The TDIU issue is being remanded.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but denied the claim as there is no evidence of a current disability resulting from disease or injury during service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran meets the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders due to service. The examiner must assess all current psychiatric disorders in conformance with the DSM-IV and determine their etiology.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a Board hearing. The issues of service connection, increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy, and TDIU are still pending.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD, and the VA examiner concluded that he does not meet the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis. Therefore, service connection for PTSD cannot be granted.