Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2008

The Board found that the veteran's current psychiatric disability and bilateral hearing loss are not attributable to his active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for schizophrenia, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration records.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The initial compensable evaluation for rhinitis was not granted, and the claim for an increased evaluation for sinusitis with headaches remains at a 30 percent rating.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for migraine headaches was granted. However, service connection for residuals of an ear infection (perforated tympanic membranes), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disorder were all denied.

The Board found that the veteran's bipolar disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disability is related to his active duty service, and he also has a diagnosed psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The claim for service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board found that the veteran does not have an innocently acquired psychiatric disability to include any manifested by paranoid schizophrenia or bipolar disorder that is due to disease or injury incurred in service. The currently demonstrated conditions are not considered to represent disabilities for which VA compensation is payable.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, arthritis, tinnitus, hearing loss, and diabetes mellitus due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions had their onset during or are otherwise related to his active service.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the veteran's claims for service connection, including information about in-service stressors and any relevant VA or SSA records. The case will be remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for attempts to obtain VA treatment records from Shreveport, LA and Alexandria, LA. The veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a psychiatric disorder secondary to his service-connected adenocarcinoma of the right lung, residuals of a stroke secondary to his service-connected adenocarcinoma of the right lung, chronic artery blockage, COPD, and an increased rating for a lobectomy scar. The veteran's claims were denied as there was no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service or service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a missed VA examination and incomplete medical records. The veteran is required to provide updated contact information, and all relevant psychiatric treatment records from the South Bend, Indiana VA Outpatient Clinic are requested.

The Board has ordered additional development to verify stressors and obtain medical records for the veteran's claims of service connection for COPD, PTSD, and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pre-existing psychiatric disorder was aggravated by service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining SSA decision and medical records. The claim is still pending as it remains to be decided whether new evidence has been presented to reopen the service connection claim.

The Board found that the appellant's paranoid schizophrenia was not incurred or aggravated during his active service in the Army National Guard.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for further verification of the veteran's claimed stressors and for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if PTSD is present.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for further development and compliance with notice requirements as per Kent v. Nicholson, due to the veteran's claim being previously denied in October 1991.