Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and due process development, including a supplemental statement from Dr. Fermin Santos regarding the etiology of the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder(s) other than PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration, including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's schizophrenia and depression were incurred in service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder. The case is remanded to determine if the claimed stressors are verified and to obtain an opinion on whether any current psychiatric disorders relate to service.

The Board found no evidence of a current psychiatric disability and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for schizophrenia was dismissed by the Board.,The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100% disability rating for service-connected schizophrenia was also dismissed by the Board.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, right knee disability (claimed as secondary to a service-connected left knee disability), carpal tunnel syndrome, and psychiatric disability.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder, including a stress disorder, was not incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the presence of anxiety diagnoses in service records and post-service hospitalization, which may affect the determination of whether any current psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic hypertension, a chronic spine disorder, a chronic right hip disorder, a chronic left hip disorder, and a generalized arthritis disorder. The claims for service connection for chronic myositis, chronic right upper extremity neuropathy, chronic left upper extremity neuropathy, chronic right lower extremity neuropathy, chronic left lower extremity neuropathy, and chronic erectile dysfunction are also denied.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for lumbar spine bulging and herniated disc with paravertebral muscle spasm/myositis, effective June 24, 2006. The veteran's other claims were remanded.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if service connection can be established for the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia. The case is being remanded for further examination and review.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA clinical records and conducting a psychiatric examination to determine if the veteran has a current psychiatric disorder, including an organic brain syndrome, that is related to service.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of February 21, 2004 for the right hand disability and assigned a 10% rating. The schizophrenia claim is denied as there was no earlier effective date prior to February 26, 2004.

The veteran's chronic headaches and psychiatric disability (PTSD) were not incurred or aggravated by active duty. The Board denied service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for hearing loss in either ear due to disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active military service. As a result, the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for psychiatric disability and dental disability is granted. The decision focuses on whether these conditions are related to service, with a determination made based on the merits of the claims rather than any presumption or secondary condition.

The Board has determined that an effective date of June 28, 1993 is granted for the grant of a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a confirmed in-service stressor and therefore cannot establish service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder. The acquired psychiatric disorder was also denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.