Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right foot and ankle disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a compensable rating for his service-connected fracture of the left fifth metatarsal. The decision also determined that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for right foot and ankle trauma.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Board has recharacterized the Veteran's claim for service connection for 'bi-polar disorder and PTSD' as one for entitlement to service connection for PTSD and one for entitlement to service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development related to his claimed in-service stressors and special operations.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have an acquired psychiatric disorder or diabetes mellitus during service and has not been shown to be related thereto.,There is no current diagnosis of PTSD, and the Veteran's post-service medical records do not show a diagnosis of this condition.

The Board has not scheduled the Veteran's requested hearing and is now remanding the case for clarification on whether he wishes a videoconference or Travel Board hearing.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and attempting to obtain SSA records.

The Board has determined that a new examination is needed to determine the current nature and likely etiology of any psychiatric disability since the Veteran filed his claim in November 2009, as well as VA treatment records should be obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to address his eye disorders, mental health conditions, and diabetes mellitus type II with retinopathy.

The Board found that the evidence does not clearly and unmistakably show a preexisting psychiatric disorder, and the preponderance of the evidence is against finding an acquired psychiatric disorder was initially manifested during or related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria to establish service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression due to lack of credible in-service stressors. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were also denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bowel incontinence, and bladder incontinence are not related to active duty service. The VA examiner opined that these conditions were less likely as not incurred or caused by active duty service.

The Board has determined that the March 1983 rating decision contained CUE in failing to grant service connection for paranoid schizophrenia, and thus grants the Veteran's claim with an effective date of March 25, 1982 (the day following separation from active duty).

The Veteran's hepatitis C was found to be asymptomatic after December 31, 2005. The Board granted a disability rating of 10 percent from July 24, 2003 (the date his claim was received) to December 31, 2005.,The Veteran's hepatitis C is not entitled to a compensable rating since December 31, 2005.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to obtain medical records and the Veteran's consent for VA to seek additional private treatment records. The claims will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including Anxiety Disorder, NOS with subclinical features of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety, and Depressive Disorder, NOS, is found to be service-connected. The Board also finds that the Veteran has current diagnoses for his back, wrists, and shoulders conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for any of the claimed conditions, including right foot pain, left leg pain, inability to walk fast, inability to put pressure on fingers, right ankle disability, back disability, tendonitis of the left elbow, bilateral hearing loss disorder, psychiatric disability (claimed as bipolar disorder), diabetes mellitus, visual acuity disorder (claimed as secondary to diabetes mellitus), peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities (claimed as secondary to diabetes mellitus), and kidney failure (claimed as secondary to diabetes mellitus).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a skin disorder were denied. The Board found no current disability related to the claimed conditions, with the exception of the skin disorders which are presumed due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including schizophrenia and major depressive disorder, were not related to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as schizophrenia, is not shown to have been incurred in service or to be related to his TBI. The partial dysgeusia was also not shown to be related to any service-connected condition.