Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2008

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and an earlier effective date were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation or an earlier effective date.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding service connection for alcoholism and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a diagnosed psychiatric disability, including PTSD, that is etiologically related to an in-service stressor. The acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD was not present in service and is not etiologically related to service or any service-connected disability.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection and assignment of a 100 percent rating for paranoid schizophrenia was denied as the law does not allow such a claim to be granted.

The veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of lipoma excision, bilateral impairment of visual acuity, and disability manifested by dizziness are granted. The claim for a disability manifested by impaired thought process is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the veteran has PTSD or any other Axis I psychiatric diagnoses related to his military service.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for further development and readjudication, including providing VCAA-compliant notice and obtaining additional evidence. The claim will be considered on a mixed basis as new and material evidence has been received.

The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability. The service connection issues will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Board dismissed the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of December 20, 1999 for a 70 percent rating for his psychiatric disorder as it is final due to the veteran withdrawing his appeal and not expressing disagreement within one year.

The Board found that the appellant's psychiatric or cognitive disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of credible evidence supporting the occurrence of in-service stressors. The claims for residuals of a right ankle strain and chronic acquired psychiatric disorder have also been denied as new and material evidence has not been submitted.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is not causally or etiologically related to his period of active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he failed without good cause to report for a necessary examination and that there was no evidence of unemployability as a result of his service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the appellant was not permanently incapable of self-support at age 18 due to mental health disability, and therefore is not considered a helpless child for VA benefits.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right eye esotropia and psychiatric disability, finding no current disabilities linked to his in-service conditions.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including claustrophobia, as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition and no evidence linking it to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding no current diagnosis or evidence of such conditions related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and paranoid schizophrenia, finding that the conditions are not related to service. The veteran's PTSD is attributed to a 1985 head injury, while his schizophrenia is linked to the same head injury.

The Board has determined that the claimant's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied due to his character of discharge from military service, which precludes him from receiving VA benefits.

The Board is remanding the case to ensure proper VCAA notice has been provided and for additional development of evidence.