Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 9, 2008 for the grant of service connection for schizophrenia, paranoid type is denied as his claim was not timely filed within one year after the denial in May 2004.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder is connected to service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The issues of asthma and right knee disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to a higher initial rating for coronary artery disease and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to the Board's decision.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran has a mid-back disorder that had its onset in service, manifested within one year of separation from service, or is otherwise etiologically related to service. The claim for service connection for dementia and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded as additional development is needed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and reviewing all pertinent medical records.

The Board found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed psychiatric disorder did not have its onset during service and is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and secondary service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding her psychiatric disability, throat swelling/earaches, painful gums and teeth, and IBS. The rating for IBS is also being remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD is denied as there was no credible evidence supporting his claim, including a lack of in-service hallucinations or symptoms related to such condition.

The Board has remanded the case for clarification of the VA opinion and any other necessary development regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including a diagnosis and whether it is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claims for service connection for schizoaffective disorder, depressive type and PTSD. The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's schizophrenia has been rated at 70 percent disabling, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for residuals of a left thumb fracture, left hand and ring finger pain, heart murmur, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), bilateral knee disorder, bronchitis, and low back disorder has been denied as there is no current disability. The VA examiner found no evidence of abnormality of the left thumb.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a scar of the right lower leg is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran incurred a scar during active duty and it is related to his in-service injury.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and finds that her current diagnoses of PTSD and depression are related to her military service, granting her claim.

The Board is requesting additional information from SSA regarding the Veteran's receipt of disability benefits, as this may affect the reopening and service connection claims.

The Board has decided the appeal is not ready for final decision and has ordered a remand to provide the Veteran with a hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and private treatment records from C. Phillips, as well as a new VA examination to address his psychiatric disorder claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a psychiatric examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected mechanical low back pain, right wrist sprain, left wrist injury residuals, and postoperative residuals of a fracture of the left ankle are all rated at 10 percent. The Veteran is granted increased ratings to 20 percent for his mechanical low back pain from July 31, 2014.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of left shoulder disability and granted it, finding that his current condition is related to his active service. The issue of secondary psychiatric disability due to left shoulder disability was not decided as there were insufficient medical opinions.