Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for schizophrenia, PTSD, anxiety disorder NOS, and mood disorder NOS.

The Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia is manifested by severe, active psychotic manifestations when exposed to life stressors, and renders him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment. The criteria for a 100 percent schedular rating have been met.

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

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection in several areas, including sensitive feet, bilateral knee disability, right leg disability, back disability, weight gain, sleep disorder, hypertension, and psychiatric disorder. The decisions were based on lack of direct causal nexus to military service or secondary service connection due to a pre-existing condition.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA and VA treatment records, as well as a psychiatric examination. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric disorder and lumbar spine disorder are related to his military service.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD and a respiratory disorder including COPD. The Veteran did not have these conditions during or within one year after his service, and there is insufficient credible evidence linking them to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim. The Veteran contends that his pre-existing sexual abuse caused him to question his sexual identity, which worsened during military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for multiple sclerosis, cognitive and/or psychiatric disorders, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, chondromalacia of the knees, and headaches. The appeal is inextricably intertwined with the issue of service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, depression, right shoulder disorder, lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and chronic headaches. These conditions are presumed to be related to his active duty in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining addendum opinions from private treating physicians and a VA examiner. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to address the issues of service connection for a left knee disability and an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the above issues have been withdrawn. The Board has no further jurisdiction in these matters.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have residuals of a back injury, and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD remains pending as it involves current diagnoses but requires further development due to conflicting evidence regarding in-service stressors. Service connection for bilateral knee pain and scars is also pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, fibromyalgia, sexual dysfunction, or bilateral foot disability for which service connection can be granted. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including schizoaffective disorder. The Veteran's condition is found to be related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and post-peripheral vascular disease, finding no evidence of current disability related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing medical records and other issues.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to a service-connected condition. The claim for earlier effective date for the 50 percent rating for right carpal tunnel syndrome is denied. The claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for right carpal tunnel syndrome is also denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of service connection for systemic arthritis/psoriatic arthritis, stress fracture of the right foot, stress fracture of the left foot, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include anxiety and depression), and impotence. As a result, these claims are dismissed.