Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2013

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, as new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim. The decision is final.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his VA treatment records and providing him with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed left shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of stressors and a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's PTSD is related to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The case will be further evaluated based on new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that further development is required for the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a thoracic spine fracture, and neck cervical spondylosis with degenerative disc disease. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional evidence, schedule VA examinations, and readjudicate the issues.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as a result of military service and thus denies his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the March 1971 rating decision, which denied service connection for schizophrenia, involved clear and unmistakable error (CUE) and requires revision. Schizophrenia is presumed to have been incurred during active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnosed depression and anxiety are related to his service, including a false accusation of sexual assault during active duty.

The Board found no evidence of a service-connected PTSD or an acquired psychiatric disability, and the Veteran's sleeplessness was not linked to his military service. The Veteran's low back condition is rated at 40 percent, but there are no other compensable conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD. The Veteran was provided an opportunity for a VA examination but failed to report. A remand is ordered to schedule the Veteran for a comprehensive psychiatric examination and hepatitis C evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric condition, specifically whether dysthymia caused or aggravated his smoking addiction.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other mental health conditions. The claim for erectile dysfunction was denied as there is no evidence to support a link between the condition and active duty.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as whether these conditions are service-connected.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were caused or aggravated by service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome and right thumb arthritis are related to service. The remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, left hip disorder, right knee disability, and left foot disorder (plantar fasciitis) are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia was granted, effective from August 22, 1979. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service problems following orders and his subsequent diagnosis of schizophrenia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his combat service in Vietnam and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headache disability and acquired psychiatric disabilities are related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The denial is based on the conclusion that these conditions did not exist prior to military service or were not permanently worsened beyond their natural progression during service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.