Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied. The issue of service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD remains pending.

The veteran's psychiatric disorder was not incurred in service and is not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and determining whether the veteran's psychiatric disorder and low back disability are related to service. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU is also being considered.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a psychiatric examination.

The veteran's service connection claim for cysts in the testicles and inner left leg disability was denied. However, his service-connected hemochromatosis is found to have aggravated a non-service connected generalized anxiety disorder.

The Board found that the veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disability (schizophrenia, catatonic type) did not manifest during service and is unrelated to his period of active duty. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, hypertension, and schizophrenia are denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease, and no current disability. The conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for service-connected schizophrenia is dismissed due to the failure to timely file a notice of disagreement regarding the effective date assigned in February 1996.

The Board has decided that the veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea is dismissed. The issues of service connection for a psychiatric disorder to include major depression and PTSD, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are remanded for further development.

The VA denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, citing the absence of evidence of chronic symptoms and noting that personality disorders are not diseases or injuries for the purposes of service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric disorder that can be linked to his military service. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim is also denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Board finds that there is no legal basis for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The evidence does not support a finding of a current disability resulting from the claimed in-service sexual assault.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as bipolar disorder, is attributable to service. The claim for a skin disability manifested by fungus on the feet will be remanded for further examination and consideration.

The veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum allowed, and he meets the criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for schizophrenia and PTSD, finding no evidence linking these conditions to active duty service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for schizophrenia, but further development is needed due to incomplete medical records and a need for an additional examination.

The Board finds that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral eye disorder are not service-connected. The Board concludes that her current psychiatric condition likely pre-existed military service, and was not aggravated by service. For her bilateral eye disorder, there is no evidence of any complaints or treatment for a service-connectable eye disability until many years after service separation.

The Board has determined that the earliest date of record indicating an intent to claim service connection for schizophrenia was September 16, 2004. Therefore, the effective date for the grant of service connection for schizophrenia is set at September 16, 2004.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder and erectile dysfunction as secondary to the veteran's service-connected low back disability.

The Board denied the motion alleging clear and unmistakable error in a May 1983 decision finding that a September 1973 rating decision was final. The reasons given were that proper notice of the denial was provided, and the reason for the denial (that the condition was not compensable) was clearly stated.