Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2004

The Board found that the appellant's discharge from service was under conditions other than honorable due to unauthorized absence without leave, and concluded that this barred VA benefits.

The Board found that the veteran does not currently have an acquired psychiatric disorder and denied her claim for service connection.

The RO denied service connection for gastrointestinal and psychiatric disorders in June 1972, finding no evidence of chronic conditions during or immediately after service. The veteran's claim is being denied as there was no clear and unmistakable error.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the appellant's claimed psychiatric disability, lumbar spine disability, and neck disability.

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence did not establish a link between current symptoms and an in-service stressor.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal before a decision was made.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder.

The Board found that the veteran does not currently suffer from an acquired psychiatric disorder and a preponderance of the evidence is against finding any previously diagnosed psychiatric disorder had its onset or was otherwise caused by his active military service.

The Board found that schizophrenia was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD and therefore denied this claim. The issue of chronic paranoid schizophrenia is not addressed as it was not part of the original appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder as secondary to service-connected hearing loss and/or tinnitus, and denied his claim for an increased disability rating for service-connected hemorrhoids. The appeals were based on failure to attend scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's psychiatric disability was incurred during active military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has deferred further appellate consideration due to the need for additional development of evidence, including obtaining medical records and Social Security Administration documents.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and consideration of the evidence, including VA medical records and a psychiatric examination. The veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on all available information.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to lack of evidence indicating an intent to apply for these conditions prior to September 8, 1964.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and psychiatric disorder. The decision found no causal relationship between the veteran's military service and his current disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current psychiatric disability and venous insufficiency of the lower extremities are not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder contributed to his death from atherosclerotic heart disease. As such, service connection for cause of death is granted. The DIC claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is moot due to the grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected schizophrenia, paranoid type contributed to his death by causing him to use medications and alcohol which led to a fatal drowning.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and psychiatric disability, finding no current disabilities that could be characterized as such.