Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2006

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and verifying ACDUTRA duty periods. The veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, PTSD, and chloracne due to exposure to herbicide. The decision found that new evidence did not reopen his previously denied claim for hypertension, and that chloracne was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD and his schizophrenia is not related to service. Therefore, service connection for both conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically major depressive disorder, did not arise during active military service and is not presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to Agent Orange or other environmental factors. The Board found no evidence of a preexisting condition at entry into service and concluded that any current psychiatric disorder arose in the 1990s as a result of alcohol abuse.

The Board finds that there were no VA benefits due and unpaid at the time of the veteran's death, thus denying the claim for accrued benefits.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression), and obesity. The reasons given were lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus aggravated his acquired psychiatric disability, leading to a grant of service connection for this condition.

The veteran's request for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to his request for a hearing. The case will be processed in accordance with the requested hearing.

The veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The TDIU claim is also denied.

The Board found that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for schizophrenia, as the evidence submitted did not provide a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The VA has not provided proper VCAA notice regarding the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death. The case is REMANDED to provide such notice and complete any additional development suggested.

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 chronic schizophrenia.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection due to head trauma, but further development is needed before deciding on the merits of the case.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and hepatitis. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability due to new and material evidence. The case is now remanded for a VA examination to determine the etiology of any current psychiatric disorder.

The veteran's claims for increased hearing loss, service connection for psychiatric disability, hypertension, and low back disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and examination.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a diagnosed psychiatric disability, including PTSD, and there is no competent medical evidence linking any current mental health condition to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, including chronic fatigue, muscle pain, joint pain, respiratory problems, heart disorder, gastrointestinal disorders, weight fluctuation and metabolic disorder, eye disorders, a cyst on the left testicle, and headaches. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for service in the Republic of Vietnam, and thus could not establish presumptive service connection for diabetes mellitus or a psychiatric disability due to Agent Orange exposure. The claims were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.