Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2014

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. However, the claim is denied as there is no verified in-service stressor and the diagnosis of PTSD is not related to active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to address his claims.

The Board has found that the Veteran is competent to manage his own funds without limitation, and therefore grants his claim for direct receipt of VA compensation benefits.

The Veteran's chronic paranoid schizophrenia was rated at 50 percent prior to January 24, 2012. Beginning on that date, the Veteran is entitled to a 70 percent evaluation for his service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are REMANDED due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance/housebound benefits was denied as he does not meet the criteria for such benefits due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia. The Veteran is also entitled to special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate.

The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms do not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and his psychiatric disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum to the October 2012 VA medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and requested a VA psychiatric examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The case is being remanded for further development, including determining the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disability and if there are supporting stressors for PTSD diagnosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen these claims. The Board also found that pre-existing psychiatric disorder was not aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include anxiety and depression, cannot be granted as there is no credible supporting evidence of a verified in-service stressor or any link between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, secondary to a service-connected left knee disability. The case is being remanded to consider his newly raised claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional disability from using buproprion and sertraline as a result of VA medical care for depression.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder due to new and material evidence submitted since the January 1991 rating decision. The claim is now on remand for further development.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for residuals of a right hand injury and granted it. The Veteran's current symptoms are related to his in-service injury, but he does not have a psychiatric condition that is related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for a left knee condition, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, skin condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are not supported by credible evidence of a continuity of symptomatology since service or an association with service. The claims will be remanded to further develop the record.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. However, the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and there is no credible evidence supporting his claimed stressors. Therefore, service connection cannot be established.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, delusional disorder, and schizophrenia. However, it is remanding this issue to allow further development. The initial rating for hypertension remains unchanged as a compensable rating is not warranted.