Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2006

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to his incarceration and inability to attend scheduled VA compensation examinations.

The Board finds that the veteran's service medical records corroborate his reported stressors related to hospitalization for meningitis and appendectomy, leading to a diagnosis of PTSD. The Board grants service connection for PTSD as it is found to be directly related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability and his claim for service connection for a lumbar/thoracic spine condition, both of which were previously denied. The evidence submitted did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), chronic sinusitis, bladder neck contracture with median lobe hypertrophy, bilateral defective hearing, chronic tinnitus, right and left knee disabilities, a skin disorder, unspecified dental condition, and a disorder characterized by loss of libido or sex drive. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred in service or as the result of exposure to Agent Orange.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and an increased rating for his skin disorder. The veteran was not granted service connection for his claimed psychiatric disorder, as there is no evidence of its occurrence or aggravation during service. For his skin disorder, the VA examiner concluded that it was not related to service or any service-connected condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, and a skin condition. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board found that the veteran's son did not become permanently incapable of self-support prior to his 18th birthday, based on clinical evidence and employment records.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence linking the veteran's current psychiatric disorder to his period of service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied an increased rating for lumbosacral strain and a higher evaluation for schizophrenia.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the veteran's stressors have been verified and his symptoms align with a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing psychiatric disorder did not undergo a permanent increase in severity during service, and thus the presumption of soundness at entry into service was rebutted. The Board then determined that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence showing aggravation of the pre-existing condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and residuals of influenza.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA and private treatment records.

The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and the appellant's currently diagnosed psychiatric disabilities were first manifested many years after service and there is no competent evidence which relates such psychiatric disorders to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied service connection for schizophrenia and pneumonia. The decision on schizophrenia was granted based on new evidence, while the decision on pneumonia was denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, but further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and an increased rating for his low back disability. The veteran's current psychiatric disorder is not related to service, while his intervertebral disc disease of the lumbar spine does not have a direct link to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral pes planus is service-connected, but denied his claim for a psychiatric disorder as secondary to his service-connected pes planus.