Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for his service-connected bilateral CSR was denied. The Board found that the veteran's vision loss is not related to his service-connected CSR and thus does not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating. Service connection for a psychiatric disorder and headaches, claimed as secondary to his service-connected CSR, was also denied due to lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service or his service-connected eye disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, and denied his requests for increased ratings for bilateral tinea pedis and tinea unguium, right hallux valgus with hammertoe, and left hallux valgus, status post-surgery.

The Board found that the veteran's heart disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected bilateral varicose veins and/or psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability and for residuals of a gunshot wound, finding no evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's failure to respond to requests for private medical records within one year, resulting in abandonment of the claim.

The Board finds that the veteran's PTSD is related to a verified stressor from service, and thus grants service connection for PTSD. The acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD is not shown to be related to service.

The Board found that the veteran's schizophrenia cannot be dissociated from service, warranting a grant of service connection. However, there is no evidence of diabetes mellitus in service or within one year post-service, and thus it was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his schizophrenia service connection, finding no new and material evidence. The claim remains denied.

The Board has determined that a VA psychiatric examination and medical nexus opinion is necessary to determine the identity and etiology of any psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, that may be present. The veteran's claim for service connection will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's current psychiatric disability, which may be related to service or pre-existing conditions. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder necessitates the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, leading to a favorable decision for special monthly compensation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and for separate initial schedular 10 percent ratings for bilateral tinnitus. The claim for service connection was based on a lack of medical evidence linking any current psychiatric disorders to service, while the claim for increased ratings for tinnitus was found to be without legal merit due to the existing regulations not allowing for separate ratings.

The veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD. The RO has not attempted to verify the stressors and a VA examination is needed to determine if he suffers from an acquired psychiatric disability related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to unresolved medical questions and a need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's paranoid schizophrenia was not present within one year of his discharge from service and is not etiologically related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's paranoid type schizophrenia most nearly approximates the criteria for a 100 percent rating, effective May 9, 2001.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and denied service connection for both PTSD and dysthymia, concluding that the diagnoses were based on insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 30 percent for the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, effective from November 30, 2001. The claim for TDIU remains denied.

The Board has determined that an earlier effective date for a 100% rating for schizophrenia is denied as the evidence does not show that the severity of the condition increased to warrant such a rating prior to February 25, 2002.