Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2007

The VA determined that the veteran's current psychiatric disability is not related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen the claim for service connection for schizophrenia and denied the reopened claim on the merits. The claim for service connection for hepatitis C was also denied.

The case is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of the veteran's psychiatric disability.

The Board found that the veteran's in-service psychotic episode resolved without chronic disability, and thus denied service connection for a nervous disorder.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) and post traumatic stress disorder, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability. The decision also found that there was insufficient evidence to establish service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, is more likely than not a continuation of symptoms noted during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is necessary for the claims of PTSD, psychiatric disability due to alcoholism, and neck disability. The case will be remanded for these examinations.

The veteran is found incompetent for VA purposes and therefore does not qualify for benefits related to handling disbursement of funds.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for additional compensation for two children, finding that VA received notice of their birth on February 4, 2005. The veteran argued he had previously notified VA of the births but was unsuccessful in getting his claims files transferred to the Phoenix RO.

The Board has granted the reopening of the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder based on new and material evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for asthma and depression. The decision on asthma was based on aggravation, while the psychiatric disorder issue remains unresolved.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to obtain relevant medical records from a mental health clinic. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder will be reconsidered based on the newly obtained evidence.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the merits of the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The RO must verify the claimed in-service stressor and request relevant records from depositories.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia. The evidence received since the August 1984 rating determination is new and material, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has determined that a bilateral foot disorder was not manifested in service or arthritis within the first postservice year, and is not shown to be related to the veteran's active service. Therefore, service connection for a bilateral foot disorder is denied.

The veteran's appeal to the March 2003 rating decision denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was not timely filed, and thus the claim is dismissed.

The veteran's schizophrenia is currently rated as 50 percent disabling. The Board has found conflicting evidence regarding the presence of PTSD, and there is insufficient information to determine if service connection for PTSD should be granted or denied. Therefore, further development is needed.

The veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and gastroesophageal reflux disease as secondary to his service-connected lumbar disc disease. The case must be remanded to obtain additional medical records, provide proper notice, and schedule the veteran for VA examinations.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disability, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability. The VA will seek out any missing records from her treatment providers and request information about stressors related to her claimed disabilities.

The appeal is denied as the claim based on CUE in the August 30, 1976 rating decision is prohibited due to a final September 15, 1987 Board decision.