Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2008

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for proper VCAA notification and consideration of additional VA outpatient records. The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder will be reopened if new and material evidence is submitted.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that a psychiatric disability, other than PTSD, was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia, finding that no CUE was committed in a prior rating decision and that the issue presented is without legal merit.

The Board has instructed the RO to adjudicate whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder on a direct basis. The issue of secondary service connection remains pending.

The Board found no evidence of service connection for schizophrenia, depression, or PTSD. The veteran's psychiatric disorders were not shown to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of schizophrenia, and thus, service connection for this condition cannot be granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected surgical scar warrants a 10 percent disability rating. The claim for direct service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder remains denied as there is no new and material evidence presented to reopen it.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to a lack of credible supporting evidence for the veteran's in-service stressor and failure to establish a link between his current condition and service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have diagnoses of certain conditions, and there is no competent medical evidence linking his military service to any current disabilities. Therefore, these claims for service connection are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher initial rating and an earlier effective date for his hypertension. The veteran was granted service connection for hypertension in May 2003, but the RO assigned a disability rating of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, during service or within one year thereafter. The residuals of a back injury and bilateral knee injuries are also not shown to be related to service. Hearing loss is not demonstrated as a disability under VA regulations.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a personal hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals due to his incarceration at a correctional facility in Florida.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his death to his service-connected conditions or events.

The Board found that the veteran's psychiatric disorder existed prior to his service in the National Guard and was not substantially aggravated by his active military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability (to include PTSD), right arm disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral leg disability. The claim for reopening the low back and left arm and hand disabilities was also denied.

The veteran requested to withdraw his appeal, and the Board has dismissed it.

The VA denied the veteran's claim of secondary service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding no evidence to support a link between his service-connected knee disabilities and his current psychiatric condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, back disability, thyroid disability, bilateral heel spurs, and acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), finding no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a head injury, a psychiatric disorder claimed as manic depression secondary to a head injury, and a low back injury due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.