Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for a hearing before the RO and will consider whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for PTSD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for dysrhythmia, emphysema, foot disability (athlete's foot and fungal infections), left shoulder disability, and psychiatric disability (PTSD).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and the Board finds that his claimed psychiatric disorder is not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling examinations and obtaining records from the Social Security Administration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, that is attributable to service. The in-service stressors reported by the Veteran are not credible and there is no evidence of combat or other verified in-service trauma.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and recognition as a former prisoner of war (POW). The Veteran's assertions regarding his experiences in Cuba were found to be unreliable, misleading, and exaggerated.

For the period prior to October 24, 2012, the Veteran's psychiatric symptoms did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent.,For the period since October 24, 2012, the Veteran's psychiatric symptoms did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosed PTSD and his depressive disorder is not service-connected.,Right leg symptoms are not related to active service, as there was no chronic right lower extremity radiculopathy during or after service.

The Board found clear and unmistakable evidence that the Veteran's pre-existing paranoid schizophrenia did not undergo an increase in severity during service, thus denying service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a depressive disorder with psychosis and schizophrenia, effective October 10, 2006. The claim for right knee disorder remains denied.

The Veteran's right ankle and shoulder disabilities were not caused by participation in VA vocational rehabilitation training, and the Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for these conditions. The claim for PTSD was also denied as there is insufficient evidence to establish a service-connected stressor.

The Board denied service connection for right knee and ankle disorders, finding no evidence of in-service injury or chronic symptoms. The acquired psychiatric disability claim is addressed separately.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's claimed in-service stressor is consistent with his service and there is equipoise of evidence regarding whether he currently has PTSD. The claim of an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD will be considered as a separate issue.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability, was denied by the Board. The evidence did not establish that he had a current psychiatric disorder or that it was related to his military service.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and granted a 50% disability rating for degenerative joint disease of the left ring finger, effective from July 2010.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease has been rated at 60 percent since March 25, 2014. The appeal is granted for this issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is service-connected, and his claim for a psychiatric disorder was granted based on new evidence. The effective date of these decisions will be determined by VA.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have onset during service and has continued since, warranting service connection. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD have been denied as there is no competent evidence to support these claims.