Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative due to the grant of a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, resulting from service. The Veteran's claimed stressors have not been corroborated and there is no credible supporting evidence to verify the occurrence of these events.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, did not have their clinical onset in service and are not otherwise related to active duty. Psychosis was not exhibited within the first post-service year.

The Board denied service connection for schizophrenia, PTSD, anxiety disorder NOS, and mood disorder NOS.

The Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia is manifested by severe, active psychotic manifestations when exposed to life stressors, and renders him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment. The criteria for a 100 percent schedular rating have been met.

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 examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection in several areas, including sensitive feet, bilateral knee disability, right leg disability, back disability, weight gain, sleep disorder, hypertension, and psychiatric disorder. The decisions were based on lack of direct causal nexus to military service or secondary service connection due to a pre-existing condition.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA and VA treatment records, as well as a psychiatric examination. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric disorder and lumbar spine disorder are related to his military service.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD and a respiratory disorder including COPD. The Veteran did not have these conditions during or within one year after his service, and there is insufficient credible evidence linking them to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim. The Veteran contends that his pre-existing sexual abuse caused him to question his sexual identity, which worsened during military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for multiple sclerosis, cognitive and/or psychiatric disorders, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, chondromalacia of the knees, and headaches. The appeal is inextricably intertwined with the issue of service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, depression, right shoulder disorder, lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and chronic headaches. These conditions are presumed to be related to his active duty in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining addendum opinions from private treating physicians and a VA examiner. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to address the issues of service connection for a left knee disability and an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the above issues have been withdrawn. The Board has no further jurisdiction in these matters.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have residuals of a back injury, and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD remains pending as it involves current diagnoses but requires further development due to conflicting evidence regarding in-service stressors. Service connection for bilateral knee pain and scars is also pending.