Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's schizophrenia. The issues of entitlement to service connection for schizophrenia and total rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disability are now before the RO.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for a skin condition, low back disability, and mental disorder. The claim for periarticular sclerosis of the right hip is denied as there is no evidence showing it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD has been remanded due to the need for a video conference hearing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and service personnel records.

The Veteran's TMJ disability is not service-connected, and the Board finds that her psychiatric disability is less likely than not caused or aggravated by her TMJ disability or service-connected hypertension with headaches. The case is remanded to obtain VA treatment records since February 2013.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge sitting at the RO.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and left shoulder disability are found to be service-connected. The Veteran is granted a combined rating of 50 percent for her bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's reported stressors are consistent with his service and supported by credible evidence. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD remains pending as its basis is unclear.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle disability, psychiatric disability (adjustment disorder with mixed depression and anxiety), bilateral hip disability, cervical spine disability, and bilateral knee disability have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active duty service or secondary to his service-connected low back sprain.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records from 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need to verify his claimed Vietnam service and to determine if he was exposed to any stressors in service. The case will be readjudicated after these actions are completed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in its previous decisions regarding service connection for a low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The Veteran's lay statements of having experienced these conditions since service are being considered, along with VA examination reports.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence did not establish a diagnosis of PTSD based on an in-service traumatic event or stressor.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder related to his military service. The claims for increased ratings for sensory loss affecting the left hand and postoperative left wrist scars are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or any increase in severity since separation from service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing service treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if she currently suffers from an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than posttraumatic stress disorder) that had its origin during service, including her alleged inservice sexual assault.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a back disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with VA examinations.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, is found to be aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. Service connection for drug addiction and polysubstance abuse is granted as secondary to the service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of cervical cancer was denied because she has never been diagnosed with cervical cancer. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability records.