Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2013

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability and granted it. The Veteran is now entitled to VA benefits related to this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim and found that new evidence supports a finding of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as schizophrenia (paranoid type) and psychotic disorder NOS. The Board determined that the Veteran's current condition is at least in equipoise with his service, thus granting service connection.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder. The reopened claim is being remanded for further development.

The Board found no current diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a verified stressor and thus could not establish service connection for PTSD. The psychiatric disorder was diagnosed many years after discharge, and there is no evidence of a psychosis within one year post-service.

The Veteran's schizophrenia was not shown to have been manifested by symptoms productive of impairment greater than occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. The rating for the condition remains at 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining outstanding medical records and arranging for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Board has decided to reconsider the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for depression, anxiety, and a bilateral knee disorder. The new evidence submitted since the previous denial includes relevant official service department records not previously considered. As such, these claims are reopened. However, no new evidence was found that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder or tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right foot disability, left foot disability, low back disability, and psychiatric disability (conversion reaction). The evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional procedural development, including allowing the Veteran's representative to review the new evidence and submit a response.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's variously diagnosed psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder and a psychosis, was not manifested in service or within one year of discharge. The evidence does not support a finding of a nexus between his current psychiatric disabilities and his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's headache disability clearly and unmistakably preexisted service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's schizophrenia did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits records, as these records may contain relevant evidence for the Veteran's claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder, diagnosed as osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, was incurred during his period of active duty from May to July 2010. The psychiatric disorder claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is pending.

The claims of service connection for reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the right hand, pharyngitis, and a psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran will be scheduled for new VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran does not have PTSD or any acquired psychiatric disorder (e.g., bipolar disorder) which is related to military service, including any putative in-service stressor.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to extend the delimiting date for his educational assistance benefits beyond June 11, 2007 due to a psychiatric disorder that prevented him from completing his education.

The case is being remanded for the VA to obtain Social Security Administration records and then review the claim again. The Veteran will be given an opportunity to respond.