Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a shell fragment wound of the jaw was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The Board found that his missing teeth are not related to service and can be replaced by a suitable prosthesis.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than July 5, 2012 for the grant of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is dismissed.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of an acquired psychiatric disorder during active service or at any time thereafter, and therefore denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and schizophrenia, is being remanded due to inadequate compliance with the Board's previous remand instructions. The AOJ will obtain missing in-service mental health clinical records and any VA treatment records from October 2014 to present. A new VA examination may be necessary if additional relevant service records are located.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate rationale in a previous VA examination and other issues.

The Board has determined that the VA examination report is inadequate and further development is needed to address the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's schizophrenia is found to have originated during his active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for schizophrenia, paranoid type and for an effective date prior to August 5, 2002, for service connection for schizophrenia, paranoid type.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression has been granted. The Board finds that her current depression disability may be related to her military experiences, including witnessing injuries and deaths during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and bipolar disorder. The right shoulder disability increased rating claim is dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran. TDIU claim remains pending.

The Board has granted a 100% rating for schizophrenia effective December 13, 2004. The Veteran's condition is characterized by persistent delusions and hallucinations, intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living, and grossly inappropriate behavior.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip condition and an acquired psychiatric disability (depression/anxiety). However, the claim of service connection for these conditions remains denied as there is no competent medical evidence showing in-service onset or a nexus between current diagnoses and military service.

The Veteran's death was caused by hypertensive and arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, but the Board is unable to determine if his service-connected schizophrenia contributed substantially or materially to his death due to insufficient evidence. The case is being remanded for a VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, prostate cancer, a neck condition, renal and liver conditions, and skin disability of the feet, were denied as there is no evidence to support that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for schizophrenia. The Veteran is entitled to service connection for schizophrenia as his pre-existing condition was aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's request to reopen her claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied. The RO found that the evidence submitted did not meet the criteria for new and material evidence. For the knee issues, the RO determined that prior to November 23, 2015, the Veteran's right and left knee strains did not cause either a compensable limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of a problematic pregnancy, menstrual and abnormal bleeding, and subsequent infertility problems are related to her in-service therapeutic abortion and D&C procedures. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service, as her claims were based on a military sexual trauma (MST).

The Board found no evidence of a service-connected TBI or any other head injury during service, and the Veteran's current symptoms are not linked to his military service. The acquired psychiatric disability is also not connected to service.