Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2008

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death, myocardial infarction with ischemic heart disease and chronic schizophrenia, was not caused by any incident of service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that his service-connected schizophrenia contributed to his death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the veteran's current psychiatric disorder is related to his service. The VA will need to conduct a new examination and provide an opinion on this issue.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further development.

The Board found that the veteran does not have PTSD and denied his claims for service connection. The issues of an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and a skin disorder are being REMANDED to the RO.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a neuropsychiatric disability, including PTSD, was received on August 12, 1995. Therefore, an effective date of August 12, 1995 is granted for the grant of service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current psychiatric disorder is secondary to his abuse of alcohol, which began in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including depression, is denied.

The Board denied reopening of the claim for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's claims due to a failure to timely file a substantive appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and myeloma, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder. The claim for myeloma was also denied as there is no current diagnosis.

The Board denied all service connection claims, finding that the veteran did not have a psychiatric disorder in service or develop one later. The chronic sinusitis claim was also denied as there is no evidence of current sinusitis related to service. Other conditions were not found to be service-connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection have been denied across multiple issues, including neck disability, hip disability, bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disability, and acquired psychiatric disability. The RO previously denied these claims as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board granted service connection for the cause of death secondary to nicotine dependence, effective March 27, 2000. The DIC claim was dismissed as moot.

The Board found that the veteran's current thoracolumbar spine disorder and psychiatric disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The VA examiners concluded that there was no relationship between the veteran's current disabilities and his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. His bilateral hearing loss was rated as 0 percent, hypertension as 0 percent, and back disability and undiagnosed illness-related arthralgias/myalgias were not found to be related to active military service or events therein.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, and Parkinsonism as there is no competent medical evidence showing a current diagnosis of these conditions or that they are related to military service.

The veteran's schizophrenia and PTSD are currently rated at 30 percent, the maximum schedular rating for these conditions. The claim for peripheral neuropathy due to Agent Orange exposure is also granted.

The Board found that the veteran's current diagnosed psychiatric disorders were not manifest in service, and there was no evidence of continuity of symptomatology. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an opinion from a VA psychiatrist regarding whether the veteran's preexisting psychosis was aggravated during service. The claim will be reconsidered based on this new information.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical records and provide the veteran with proper VCAA notice. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current anxiety disorder is related to his time in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.