Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2009

The Board found no verified stressor and insufficient evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD or an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD). The claim was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's lung disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, including asbestos exposure. The claim for an increased rating for schizophrenic reaction remains pending.

The Veteran's skin disability and PTSD are being remanded for additional development to determine their etiology, including verification of stressors related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate reasons and bases in the previous decision, including a need for another VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a heart disorder and his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, inclusive of PTSD. The evidence submitted since the last final denial was found not to be new and material.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a low back disability attributable to his active military service and denied service connection for psychiatric disability. The claim was reopened based on new evidence, but service connection is still denied.

The Veteran's right hip disability is not service-connected, and her claims for increased rating of the right knee and psychiatric disabilities are denied. The claim to reopen a previously denied right ankle disability was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The evidence did not establish a link between any current psychiatric condition and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a mental health nexus opinion.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and verifying service periods. The Veteran's claims of hearing loss, tinnitus, left ear otitis media, and psychiatric disorders are being reviewed.

The VA has determined that the Veteran's schizophrenia, paranoid type does not warrant a rating higher than 50 percent.

The Board determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizoaffective disorder and psychosis, was not incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and a sleep disorder were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed psychiatric disability or bilateral foot disability, and therefore denied these claims. The remaining issues of service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral knee, and skin disabilities are also denied.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition and a left elbow condition. Additional VA examinations are required to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic pain syndrome was denied. The effective date of the grant of service connection for depression and PTSD is May 29, 2003 (but no earlier). Other claims were either denied or not addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for schizophrenia, claimed as a neuropsychiatric disorder. The Veteran's private physicians have provided opinions linking his psychiatric condition to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the appellant meets the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a paid and due audit of the overpayment amount and consideration of both the creation of the overpayment and the entitlement to a waiver of recovery.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and depression, finding no evidence of a diagnosis of PTSD and determining that the Veteran's depression was not related to active military service.