Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have post-traumatic stress disorder and finds no evidence to support service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a right knee disability, and a left knee disability. The veteran's current depression is found to be proximately due to or the result of her service-connected endometriosis with a total hysterectomy. Ratings of 30% have been assigned for each knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD; a skin rash of the hands; herpes zoster of the leg; and hepatitis. The veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, was not incurred during service or within the one-year presumptive period thereafter. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board has determined that the case needs further development, including obtaining specific periods of active duty for training and SSA records. The veteran's claim will be remanded to allow for these additional steps.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current psychiatric disorder and there is no evidence linking any such condition to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and a chronic psychiatric disorder to the RO for further development.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied service connection for low back disorder, right knee disorder, hypertension, tuberculosis, and psychiatric disorder. The veteran's claims were not supported by competent evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and denied both claims for service connection for the cause of death and DEA benefits.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and finds that he is entitled to this benefit.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim of polysubstance abuse with psychosis. The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence linking any diagnosed condition to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, as there is no in-service injury or disease linked to his current condition.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability and granted service connection for bipolar disorder, finding that new evidence supports a link between the veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's schizophrenia was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for schizophrenia, finding that there is no current disability and noting that the diagnosis was not made within one year from separation.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back and cervical spine disabilities, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence of arthritis or other conditions related to service.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a link between any current disabilities and service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia and asbestosis, finding that new evidence supports a relationship between his conduct in service and his current disabilities. The total rating claim is granted.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and personnel information. The issues of service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and esophagitis are being addressed.