Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical records and service personnel records, as well as to determine if new evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for undifferentiated schizophrenia.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and his other diagnosed conditions do not permanently preclude him from engaging in all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a finding of disability as defined by VA regulation. Therefore, service connection for hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for dental trauma or an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The evidence did not establish a diagnosis of PTSD based on a verified in-service stressor and there is no medical evidence showing a direct relationship between his current psychiatric disorders and military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service treatment records and additional development is needed before the claims can be decided on the merits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination. The issues of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetic retinopathy are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD, incurred in service. The Veteran's claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and chronic paranoid schizophrenia, is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and review of SSA records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, inguinal hernia, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and a depressive psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and information regarding his service-connected conditions, stressor claims, and increased rating claims.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for migraine headaches has been granted, with a current evaluation of 50 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and a depressive disorder with mixed anxiety features, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) and bilateral hearing loss were not causally related to his service. The preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's HIV and acquired psychiatric disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by military service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during his active duty. The VA examiners concluded that the current diagnoses are more likely due to post-service exposures.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension (SMP) based on need for aid and attendance or being housebound due to his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's conditions, including a psychiatric disability, heart disability, low back disability, residuals of head injury, and prostate disability, are considered direct service connection cases.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a sesamoid fracture to her left foot and for PTSD and depression, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for a sesamoid fracture. The psychiatric disability claim was also denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to the claimed conditions.

The Veteran was granted service connection for schizophrenia, effective from May 24, 1999. The claim was reopened based on new evidence submitted in May 1999.

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 of his medical records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for residuals of a burn to the left forearm has been withdrawn. The remaining issues on appeal will be addressed in the remand portion.