Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2009

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder was not service-connected, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including whether it is related to service or post-service events.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and is now considering it on its merits. The Veteran's in-service diagnosis of schizophrenia and emotionally unstable personality may be related to his current condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional information and verification of stressors, as well as obtaining Social Security Administration records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma. The case is now remanded for further development, including a VA examination and obtaining Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as moot due to the September 2007 rating decision granting service connection for his acquired psychiatric disability and assigning a 30 percent initial evaluation.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for schizophrenia.

The Board denied service connection for a right wrist disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The claim for a compensable evaluation of the residuals of a left little toe fracture was also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's paranoid schizophrenia and PTSD are directly attributable to his military service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that there was no diagnosis of PTSD and noting that the in-service stressors were verified. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and thus cannot establish service connection for this condition. The Veteran's claims for other conditions are also denied.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, as no evidence was provided that established an in-service occurrence or link to military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and mood disorder not otherwise specified, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to his in-service stressors or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for alcoholism, drug abuse and smoking, and unspecified mental disorders other than PTSD were denied as a matter of law due to the prohibition against granting such claims based on willful misconduct or use of tobacco products during service.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a bamboo stick to the rectum do not meet the criteria for an increased disability rating. The VA examiner found no residual disabilities other than occasional abdominal pain, and thus did not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for anxiety reaction in July 1956 and again in November 2004, finding no new and material evidence. The current decision denies reopening the claim.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, claimed as depression; sinusitis; bladder neck contracture with median lobe hypertrophy; bilateral hearing loss; and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims were not supported by competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and granted a 10 percent evaluation for her hypothyroidism. The issues of service connection for a chronic respiratory disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and increased evaluations for myalgia have been addressed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disorder is related to service.