Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and determined that new evidence supports a finding of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and schizophrenia. The Board found that there is at least equipoise as to whether the Veteran's conditions began during active service or are related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The VA examiner's opinion was considered more probative than the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms and their impact on his functioning.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is not proximately due to or aggravated by her service-connected knee disabilities. The mental disorder issue remains unclear as it was not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to address the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD. The case will be re-adjudicated after a formal character of discharge determination regarding his last period of active service from September 1985 to August 1990.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to afford him and his representative an opportunity to submit additional evidence or argument, and to readjudicate the claims.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an updated VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including whether his service-connected disabilities have aggravated any nonservice-connected psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and the effective date for bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus deformities and plantar fasciitis and calcaneal spurs are also being addressed.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to obtain the appellant's service personnel records, VA treatment records since June 2010, and Social Security Administration disability benefits decision. A VA psychiatric examination will be scheduled to determine if any acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and a sleep disorder) are denied as there is no evidence of such conditions during his period of creditable active military service or otherwise related to such service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records.

The Board found no credible evidence supporting the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and concluded that his psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, was not incurred or aggravated by service. The spinal stenosis and spondylosis were also denied as there was insufficient evidence linking them to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, claimed as schizophrenia and schizoid personality disorder with passive-dependent personality. The appeal is denied.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the inadequacies of a previous examination, including not discussing all disabilities and their impact on employment. The Veteran is required to provide information about any VA or private healthcare providers who have treated him since 2006.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bruxism, TMJ, and anxiety disorder are related to service. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that it is as likely as not that the Veteran's schizophrenia had its onset during his military service, and therefore grants service connection for schizophrenia.

The Board found no verified military stressor event, and thus denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD). The Veteran's claim of diabetes mellitus, type II, is also denied due to lack of evidence supporting a nexus to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The left leg varicose veins are currently rated as 20 percent disabling, effective June 13, 2008.,Claims to reopen for mitral valve prolapse, headaches, generalized joint pain, right leg varicose veins, bipolar disorder, PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than bipolar disorder and PTSD have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a personal hearing before the Board at his local RO.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for metatarsalgia, bilateral feet (previously claimed as muscle pain) is dismissed due to the benefit already being in effect. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder, headaches, and sleep apnea are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.