Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2005

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and psychiatric disorders other than PTSD is denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses.,Service connection for alcohol dependence is precluded as a matter of law due to the nature of the condition.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for schizophrenic reaction, finding that November 21, 1994 is the earliest allowable date based on new and material evidence received.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left hip disability is not secondary to his service-connected paranoid schizophrenia and that he did not incur a left hip fracture as a result of VA treatment or medication. As such, both claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 are denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric condition are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions arising from his Gulf War service, including 'high sulfur intake,' 'reaction to botulism injection,' and 'Gulf War Syndrome.' However, the claim is denied as a matter of law because it does not reference a specific disability per se.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder as directly related to active service and denied entitlement to service connection for depression secondary to the service-connected seizure disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia should be remanded to allow for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the appellant without initial RO review, and for further development in accordance with VCAA.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, narcolepsy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. However, it denied these claims on their merits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a cardiovascular disorder other than hypertension, and a psychiatric disorder. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, fatigue (including chronic fatigue syndrome), hair loss, skin rashes, right shoulder pain, psychiatric disability (to include PTSD), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and sinusitis. The decision was based on a finding that there is no medical evidence indicating the veteran has these conditions or their symptoms.

The appeal is being remanded to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC for scheduling a videoconference hearing with a Board Member at the RO.

The Board found that the veteran's psychiatric disorder did not result from disease or injury in service and is not otherwise related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, including post-traumatic stress disorder. The new evidence submitted did not provide any information that would support reopening the claim.

The Board found that new and material evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, a back disorder, or PTSD. The decision is mixed as it granted some issues (PTSD) but denied others.

The veteran's service-connected muscle contraction headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, and his right knee disability is rated at 10 percent. The Board has remanded the case for further development.

The Board has determined that the character of the appellant's discharge is not a bar to VA compensation benefits based on disability incurred in or aggravated by his period of service from July 1989 to May 1994. The veteran's claims for service connection are remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to the veteran's request for a videoconference hearing.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a total rating based on individual unemployability, finding that September 15, 1997 was the earliest possible date for assignment of benefits due to evidence showing the veteran became unable to obtain and maintain employment since his discharge from service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a hearing before a Veteran's Law Judge at his local RO.