Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a diagnosed PTSD or another psychiatric disorder other than PTSD due to service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for injury to tailbone, including chip fracture, with low back pain and for a psychiatric disorder (schizophrenia), but denied them on their merits. The claim for service connection for perforated left eardrum remains denied.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for paranoid-type schizophrenia evaluated as 100 percent disabling is dismissed because there is no allegation of fact or law upon which relief may be granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new and material evidence received since the October 1999 decision, reopening the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder. The right knee rating issue is also being remanded.

The Board has ordered a remand to determine if the veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance, given his worsening condition since the last examination in October 2002.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for hepatitis C, left knee disability, or psychiatric disability (including PTSD). The veteran's claim for hepatitis C was denied as it did not manifest until many years after service. Service connection for the other conditions was also denied due to lack of competent evidence linking them to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service medical records and requests for additional information from a private physician. The veteran's claim will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further action, including scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Board has determined that the veteran's schizophrenia, paranoid type, had its onset during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining verification of the veteran's service in the Naval Reserves and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any current diagnosed psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and has also determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete medical records and an inadequate VA psychiatric examination.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, has been dismissed due to the death of the veteran.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss is not due to in-service acoustic trauma and therefore denied service connection for this condition. The psychiatric disorder claim requires further development as it involves a recent opinion based on limited records.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD due to new and material evidence. However, it was not established that the veteran incurred a stressor during active service or that his current PTSD is related to such service. The secondary service connection claim for paranoid schizophrenia as being aggravated by PTSD was denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder due to new and material evidence submitted since the November 2001 rating decision. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the veteran's currently diagnosed psychiatric disorder.

The case is being remanded for additional development to ensure all relevant medical records are obtained and proper notice is provided to the appellant.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for hematuria and a psychiatric disorder, but additional development is required to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied the claim to reopen and to establish service connection for schizophrenia, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The veteran's service-connected schizophrenia is currently rated as 70 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating, and thus denies an increased rating.