Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his disability severity and impact on employment.

The Board found that the appellant did not have a current acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, and that his claimed stressors were inconsistent with the available evidence. As such, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus. The acquired psychiatric disorder is found to be aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including Type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for migraine headaches and acquired psychiatric disorders. The claims are both granted as they were decided on their merits.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before a final decision can be rendered on the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death before a decision was made by the Board.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining STRs and arranging for VA examinations to determine if any of the claimed disabilities are related to service, specifically National Guard duty.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, was not shown to have been manifested in service or for the first year after service separation and is not shown to have been caused or aggravated by his military service or any events therein.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have PTSD as a result of an in-service stressor and that any other acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, major depression, adjustment disorder, etc., was first manifested many years after discharge from active duty and is unrelated to service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and a schizoaffective disorder, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his current psychiatric disorders, including whether there is a 50 percent or better probability that any such disorders are related to service. The issue will be adjudicated again after this additional development.

The Board granted service connection for paranoid schizophrenia effective February 27, 2008. The Veteran's original claim was denied in 1976 due to lack of evidence during or immediately following his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a Board videoconference hearing at the RO. The issues of entitlement to an initial compensable disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and dysthymic disorder are both currently in a 'unknown' status as they have not been adjudicated.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain all relevant medical records and to attempt to locate additional evidence from health care providers identified by the appellant. The claims will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled videoconference hearing. He requested rescheduling due to hospitalization, and the Board finds this reasonable.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric, hearing, and tinnitus conditions were not incurred in service. The eye disorder claim was not addressed as it is unclear if there was a current disability during the pendency of the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA records and providing a VA examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and PTSD due to issues with his discharge from service and incomplete medical records. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional information and evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed schizophrenia is as likely as not related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for schizophrenia.