Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric condition, specifically whether dysthymia caused or aggravated his smoking addiction.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other mental health conditions. The claim for erectile dysfunction was denied as there is no evidence to support a link between the condition and active duty.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as whether these conditions are service-connected.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were caused or aggravated by service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome and right thumb arthritis are related to service. The remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, left hip disorder, right knee disability, and left foot disorder (plantar fasciitis) are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia was granted, effective from August 22, 1979. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service problems following orders and his subsequent diagnosis of schizophrenia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his combat service in Vietnam and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headache disability and acquired psychiatric disabilities are related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The denial is based on the conclusion that these conditions did not exist prior to military service or were not permanently worsened beyond their natural progression during service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a psychiatric disability during service or within one year post-service, and the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are not linked to her military service. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia, is denied.

The Board found no probative evidence of an acquired psychiatric disorder in service or a link between the Veteran's current psychiatric problems and her period of active service, thus denying her claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and verifying the dates of the Veteran's Reserve service. A VA gastrointestinal examination is needed to determine if any current chronic gastrointestinal disorder is related to service, and a VA psychiatric examination is required to assess whether any current chronic psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disability, diagnosed as schizophrenia (and specifically noted as paranoid schizophrenia), based on evidence showing the Veteran's current diagnosis developed during active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a VA examination to determine whether any current right knee disability is related to service. The psychiatric claim will also be examined for proper service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a temporary file and providing NACVSO with an opportunity to submit evidence on behalf of the Veteran.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for memory loss, PTSD, hemorrhoids, bilateral knee condition, headache disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. However, these claims have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between any current disabilities and service.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability, are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain clarification of the nexus opinion provided in his May 2010 psychiatric examination report and to address whether any other diagnosed psychiatric disability began during service or was caused by an event or injury in service, including military sexual trauma. The Veteran also requested a hearing on his penile deformity claim but did not attend.