Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2009

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims, and that there was no direct or secondary service connection based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and TDIU due to lack of verified in-service stressors. The Veteran's claimed stressors were not supported by credible supporting evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, diagnosed during service and continuing to the present, is related to his in-service noise exposure. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric disability. There is no evidence linking erectile dysfunction to military service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing corrective VCAA notice.

The Veteran's VA compensation benefits were reduced by 30% due to concurrent receipt of FECA benefits for the same psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, due to insufficient evidence of in-service stressors and a lack of medical evidence supporting a direct relationship between his claimed conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder did not have its origins in service and is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. For his acquired psychiatric disability, the Board noted no PTSD diagnosis but diagnosed him with depression and schizoaffective disorder, finding these conditions were more likely related to post-service on-the-job trauma rather than service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for various disabilities, including a cervical spine injury, right and left knee disabilities, thoracic and lumbar spine disabilities, a psychiatric disorder (including posttraumatic stress disorder), and a heart condition. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric and cognitive disabilities are not related to his active duty service, specifically his in-service head injuries. The evidence does not support a finding of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, due to lack of credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors and current psychiatric disorders not being shown to be related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability manifested by insomnia and nightmares did not manifest during service or for many years thereafter, nor is it otherwise related to service. The claim was denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not meet the criteria for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, or tinnitus. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service stressors leading to PTSD, nor is there credible supporting evidence linking current symptoms to service. For tinnitus, while the appellant reported hearing damage from service, no direct link was established between his current condition and service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for further evaluation of his TDIU claim, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues are inextricably intertwined due to the impact on his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be causally related to service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The psychiatric disorder claim remains pending.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and a respiratory disorder, but denied the claim of service connection for a liver disorder. The RO previously denied these claims in March 2004 on the merits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining records from the Social Security Administration and providing a supplemental statement of the case if benefits are denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), is granted as service connected due to a verified friendly-fire incident during his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD and depression are not supported by the evidence of record. The Board finds that there is no current diagnosis or competent medical nexus linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, right foot disability, and psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The case is remanded for further development.