Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims can be fully adjudicated.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records from his private psychiatrist.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder warrants a disability rating of 50 percent, effective from August 9, 2007. The appeal for an increased rating is granted.

The Board denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, entitlement to special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound, entitlement to special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(k) for loss of use of his right foot/leg, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, sinus disability, abdominal scar (hernia), and skin disability (tinea cruris). The decision is based on the lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and military service.

The Board has dismissed the motion due to the death of the moving party, and thus lost jurisdiction over the matter.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to new and material evidence. The Board finds that the Veteran's psychiatric disability, related to his combat experiences in Vietnam, was a contributory cause of his death by police shooting.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertion that his preexisting left knee disability increased in severity during service, and denied both claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to substantiate the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a low back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and right shoulder disabilities. This includes verifying duty status during ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA periods, obtaining VA examinations, and updating treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and attempting to obtain 1984 hospitalization records. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated based on the new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an examination to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric conditions are related to his military service, including a possible event on September 11, 2001.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is found to be related to his active duty service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board found no evidence of a skin disability related to service, including Gulf War exposure. The Veteran's statements about chemical exposure in the Persian Gulf were not supported by medical records or corroborated.

The Veteran is competent to handle disbursement of funds due to his stable mental health status and compliance with treatment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and providing a new VA examination. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity prior to January 3, 2006. The Board granted a 50 percent rating for this period.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if VA treatment records from January to March 1999 constituted an informal claim for increase, and whether a total disability rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) should be considered.

The Veteran's schizophrenia and depression have been rated at the highest available level, but his radiculopathy of the lower extremities is not service-connected.

The Board denied higher disability ratings on an extraschedular basis for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the evidence did not present an exceptional or unusual disability picture.,The Board also denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder involving anxiety, a paranoid disorder, or loss of sleep, as there was no diagnosed psychiatric disability.,Both decisions were based on the existing schedular rating criteria and secondary service connection provisions.