Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2009

The Board found that the Veteran's schizophrenia was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and denied her claim.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and clarifying the appellant's attorney's comments.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. The Veteran will be provided a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any current acquired psychiatric disability had its onset in service or is related to an in-service personal assault.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability and granted it on de novo review, finding that new evidence relates the Veteran's current schizoaffective disorder to his service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and clarification of the nature of the Veteran's claims, including whether there is a claim to reopen regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD). The Veteran also seeks service connection for appendiceal cancer and multiple cancers, with presumed exposure to Agent Orange. Further examination may be necessary to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's paranoid schizophrenia warrants a 70 percent rating since November 1, 2003, based on significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and need for medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, a heart disorder to include coronary artery disease and ischemic heart disease, migraine headaches, and a disability manifested by dizziness.,The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, thus denying the reopening of the claim.

The Veteran's schizophrenia has been rated at 50% since the initial grant of service connection, and no changes are being made to this rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as there is no evidence of record that corroborates the claimed inservice stressors. The effective date claim for an increased rating of diabetes mellitus, type II, is also denied due to lack of factual basis.

The Board found that the appellant was insane at the time of his offenses in service, which allowed him to be eligible for VA benefits despite his character of discharge.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and increased ratings for his shell fragment wounds, chronic otitis media and mastoiditis of the right ear, and hearing loss of the right ear were denied. The claim for service connection for a neuropsychiatric disorder (to exclude PTSD) was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the January 2002 RO decision is not new and material, and thus does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder that can be related to his period of service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for a videoconference hearing at the RO due to the Veteran's request.

The Board found that the appellant did not have a diagnosed mental condition, including PTSD. The claims for sexual dysfunction and gastrointestinal conditions were denied as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or relationship to service. The claim for acid reflux was also denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service. The back condition and tinnitus claims were similarly denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's treatment at St. Mary's Hospital from November 16 to November 19, 2006 met the criteria for VA payment and granted this claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, and macromastia are not related to service. The claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting psychiatric disorder existed prior to service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, service connection for a psychiatric disorder is denied.