Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including post-traumatic stress disorder, is not service-connected. Essential hypertension and coronary artery disease are also not service-connected, but are found to be related to diabetes mellitus. Erectile dysfunction is not service-connected, but is considered proximately due to diabetes mellitus. Chronic tinnitus is service-connected as a complication of hearing loss.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development of the evidence regarding the creation of overpayment and review of his waiver claim.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeals for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for residuals of L4-5 laminectomy and service connection for a psychiatric disability, claimed as secondary to service-connected residuals of L4-5 laminectomy.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding no evidence of in-service injury or combat experience that could support these claims.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and a nervous condition. However, the claim is denied as there is no evidence to support that the veteran's current psychiatric disorder was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board granted service connection for schizophrenia with an effective date of August 16, 2004.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

The Board found that the veteran's preexisting psychiatric disorder existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for plantar fasciitis of the right foot, finding that it is aggravated by his service-connected bilateral pes planus. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disability, to include schizophrenia. The veteran's claim is now pending for further review.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for consideration of additional evidence and readjudication. The veteran is entitled to service connection for certain conditions but the evaluation and timing need to be reconsidered.

The veteran's service-connected schizophrenia has resulted in total occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as chronic auditory and visual hallucinations, suicidal ideations, persistent danger of hurting himself or others, paranoia, illogical thought process with bizarre and fragmented thoughts, panic attacks, intermittent neglect of personal appearance, compulsive rituals, and involuntary leg movements. The veteran's service-connected reflex sympathetic dystrophy has been rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected schizophrenia prior to April 19, 1995 was granted. The effective date is February 28, 1981.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional service treatment records and arranging for VA examinations to determine the nature of any current psychiatric disorders and right knee and wrist conditions. The veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The veteran has withdrawn all issues on appeal, including the request for an increased rating for PTSD and service connection for various symptoms. The Board has dismissed these appeals.

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as generalized anxiety disorder with major depression and mixed personality disorder, was not incurred in service or manifested within one year after separation from service. The evidence did not support a finding of PTSD due to combat exposure.

The veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, but the case has been remanded due to insufficient evidence and need for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a disability manifested by high cholesterol and therefore, her claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's request to restore a 100% disability rating for his schizophrenia, confirming instead a reduction from 100% to 50%. The decision was based on evidence showing sustained improvement in the veteran's condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if E.C., the veteran's son, was permanently incapable of self-support at age 18 due to his paranoid schizophrenia. The case is being remanded for further action.