Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral hearing loss, finding new and material evidence. However, it denied both claims on their merits.,Service connection was not established for a back disability in this decision.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but remanded due to need for additional development including verification of stressor and examination.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the readjudication of the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claim on appeal will be REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depression, has been granted. The Board finds it at least as likely as not that the Veteran's current depression symptoms are at least partially attributable to her active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a cardiac disorder due to further evidentiary development. The Veteran is also given an opportunity to testify at a local VA office hearing.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for initial consideration of new evidence, including a psychiatric medical report submitted by the Veteran's representative. The claim will be reconsidered and a supplemental statement of the case will be provided.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for issuance of a Statement of the Case on the issues of service connection for right foot disability and psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, with a separate 10 percent rating for instability. The claim of service connection for PTSD and depression has been reopened due to new evidence but no final decision on the merits has been made.

The Board found that the Veteran did not timely file a notice of disagreement with the October 2002 rating decision, and thus the appeal is dismissed. The issues of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and left shoulder disability are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, and the claim is now pending for further review.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for his service-connected schizophrenia, paranoid type. The Board found that the April 1982 rating decision which granted this condition was not based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE). However, the Board also found new evidence warranting a reopening of the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed in-service stressor of being assaulted by his drill instructor is established, and he is currently diagnosed with PTSD. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional records from SSA and arrange further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records and providing a VA examination to determine if any current acquired psychiatric disability is related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, varicose veins, and shingles. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder to include PTSD is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and ensuring compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Veteran's bilateral knee arthritis was diagnosed within one year of separation from service and manifested to a degree of at least 10 percent during that time.,The weight of the competent evidence of record demonstrates that the Veteran has been diagnosed with a psychiatric disability under the DSM-IV criteria due to an in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing supplemental medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hepatitis C and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has found no evidence of a current diagnosis of seizure disorder and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection based on lack of a current disability. The psychiatric issue remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and cold injury residuals is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of his claims.