Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2008

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression) due to the lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The veteran's complaints were not supported by medical records or VA examinations.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of any currently manifested psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the veteran's current psychiatric disability is related to service.

The veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of a cerebrovascular accident claimed as secondary to amputation of the right arm was denied, and no timely substantive appeal was filed.,The veteran's claim for service connection of Hepatitis C was denied, and no timely substantive appeal was filed.,The veteran's claim for service connection of psychiatric disability to include PTSD was denied, and no timely substantive appeal was filed.

The Board denied the appellant's claim of reopening his schizophrenia service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, maintaining that there was no established link between his schizophrenia and his military service.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional evidence, including Social Security Administration records and VA treatment records from 1971 to March 1999, and from July 2004 to present.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for rotator cuff tear, right shoulder; an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than post-traumatic stress disorder); and PTSD. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease that resulted in these conditions.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disability and the reopening of his claim for degenerative changes of the spine were granted. The effective date is June 1, 1977.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for a low back disability. The veteran's current low back disability does not appear to be related to her military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was not incurred as a result of active service. However, chronic sinusitis with headaches related to his service in Southwest Asia is considered incurred during service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for sarcoidosis and a mood disorder secondary to sarcoidosis are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD diagnosis was not attributed to a verified in-service stressor and her other acquired psychiatric disorders, including major depression and panic disorder with agoraphobia secondary to PTSD, were not attributable to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was denied.

The Board has determined that there is a need to obtain the veteran's service medical records from his periods of service from September 1976 to June 1977 and from September 1981 to September 1984, as these may contain information relevant to the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder due to personal assault. The RO is instructed to attempt to obtain these records and provide them to the veteran if available.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia, finding that the veteran's condition started during his military service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD and/or other any psychiatric disability. The case is being remanded to obtain additional information about the stressors leading to his diagnosis, conduct a VA examination, and determine if there is a link between his current symptoms and in-service events.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection of a back disorder and a psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression). The preponderance of the evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active duty service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and determined that new and material evidence had been submitted. The Board found that the appellant's current psychiatric disorder is related to his service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including chronic paranoid schizophrenia, is not related to his active service and denied the claim.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and an anxiety disorder - not otherwise specified, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The evidence did not establish a link between his military service and his current psychiatric condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and failure to appear at a previously scheduled hearing.