Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2007

The Board found no evidence of a psychiatric disability in service and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for schizophrenia, finding no claim was filed prior to July 21, 1997.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current psychiatric disorder to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The VA determined that the veteran's schizophrenia, disorganized type does not meet the criteria for a higher rating than the current 50 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed undifferentiated schizophrenia was not incurred or aggravated during his military service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred. The preponderance of evidence is against finding a connection between the veteran's current condition and his time in active duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression and PTSD, as well as a respiratory disorder, cannot be granted based on the evidence of record. The Board found no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and finds no evidence to support service connection for either a chronic back disability or a chronic psychiatric disability.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral foot disorders due to new evidence, but denied the increased rating claim and service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board or videoconference hearing.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a right hand disability, psychiatric disability, and low back disability were denied as there is no medical evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence was against the claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a confirmed stressor in service which would support a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder or an opinion that any other psychiatric disorder was caused or aggravated by service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include post-traumatic stress disorder is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including low back disability and left shoulder disability, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and a need for further examination. The veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is on appeal.

The Board found that the preponderance of medical evidence does not show a connection between the veteran's current psychiatric disorders and his military service.

The Board has directed that the appellant's San Antonio VA outpatient treatment records from March 1973 to September 1973 be obtained. The case is now REMANDED for these records and further adjudication.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, a psychiatric disability (to include depression and/or PTSD), and a sleep disorder are all denied as there is no competent evidence to support these conditions were incurred during active military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia and an increased rating for toxic psychosis with headaches are being remanded due to the inextricability of these issues. The case will be returned to the Board after issuance of a statement of the case on the issue of service connection for schizophrenia.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. However, these issues must be remanded to obtain additional medical records and ensure compliance with VA's duty to assist.

The Board denied reopening the claim of service connection for the cause of death and denied DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD.