Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2008

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a psychiatric condition other than PTSD and to include schizophrenia. However, it is determined that there is no evidence linking these conditions to service or any verified stressors. The claim for service connection for PTSD remains unresolved.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and a need for an examination to determine if the veteran's current psychiatric disability is related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for Meniere's disease, neck disorder, left knee disorder, left hip disorder, and low back disorder. The veteran's psychiatric disorder was found to be aggravated by his service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Board has jurisdiction to consider the reopening of a claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than post-traumatic stress disorder. The veteran's application to reopen this claim is granted, and the claim is remanded due to the need for further development regarding the reopened claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including examinations to determine the etiology of any current sleep disorder, hypertension, and psychiatric disorder. The veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The veteran's service-connected schizophrenia is manifested by severe symptoms such as paranoia, auditory hallucinations, and poor social functioning. The Board has determined that a 100 percent disability rating is warranted for his service-connected schizophrenia.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, finding that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim. The issue of a claimed schizoaffective disorder is not before the Board on appeal.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and a mental disorder have not been reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's current psychiatric and right leg disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by his period of active duty. The evidence did not establish a nexus between service and these conditions.

The Board found no current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, or bipolar disorder. The veteran's diagnosed paranoid personality disorder is not a disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has decided that the veteran's claim for reopening his service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder should be remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if new and material evidence has been received.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, but found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a respiratory disorder. The veteran's current psychiatric disorder is not related to his period of active service.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder is not related to his active service and denied the claim, as it was a result of willful misconduct (drug abuse).

The Board has determined that the veteran's schizophrenia is etiologically related to active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for specially adapted housing is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression due to a lack of evidence linking his current psychiatric disorders to his military service.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's preexisting psychiatric disorder did not undergo a clinically-identifiable permanent increase in severity during his period of active military service, and thus cannot be granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the veteran's in-service stressors and to obtain additional medical records. The case will be returned for these purposes.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for schizophrenia and granted it on a presumptive basis due to its onset within one year after separation from service.