Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for further development regarding his claimed stressors and combat experience.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining medical opinions and reviewing pertinent records.

The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for the service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, effective January 4, 2011, based on occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen claims for service connection for coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction, right bundle branch block, hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, and a psychiatric disability (PTSD and anxiety).

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including paranoid schizophrenia, is related to an injury during INACDUTRA. The low back disorder was not present in service or for many years thereafter and is not etiologically related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the evidence submitted since the April 2002 rating decision was not new and material, and thus did not reopen the claims for service connection for psychiatric disorder, cardiovascular disorder, and lung disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his active military service. The other conditions were either not shown to be present during service or are not considered disabling.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection must be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed psychiatric disability and sleep apnea. The case will be returned to the RO/AMC for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for consideration of new evidence submitted since his last decision, including VA treatment records and service hospital records. The claims will be readjudicated after any necessary development.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence showing a current disability. The claim is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD and his acquired psychiatric disorder is unrelated to service. Hypertension was also found to be unrelated to service or a disease of service origin.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, memory loss, and COPD were not found to be related to his active service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection of paranoid schizophrenia. The issue is now pending on its merits.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The appeal will be reconsidered after this additional review.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim as the appellant has passed away.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia and thought disorder. The evidence now shows a continuity of symptoms since active service and raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and gastrointestinal disability are presumed to be related to exposure to Agent Orange, but hypertension and erectile dysfunction were not found to be service-connected.,Service connection was denied for the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's private treatment records and to provide him with a VA examination for his claimed disabilities. The appeal will be remanded to the RO/AMC for these actions.