Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing in Orlando, Florida. The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions are pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus did not have onset during active service, was not otherwise related to his active service, and denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and service personnel records to confirm his presence in the Republic of Vietnam. A compensation and pension examination will be scheduled to determine if any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, may be etiologically related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection in full, finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen any of the individual claimants' cases. The Board also found that hypertension, hepatitis C, and a stomach disorder/intestinal blockage were not incurred or aggravated during active service.

The Board determined that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or paranoid schizophrenia, and there was no evidence linking these conditions to service. The claims were denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 22, 2000, for the grant of service connection for schizophrenia. The decision states that no earlier effective date is warranted as the Veteran filed his petition to reopen on September 22, 2000.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including Major Depression. The evidence did not establish that the Veteran engaged in combat or provided credible supporting evidence for his claimed stressors.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and other mental health conditions. The decision is based on the Veteran's reported in-service stressors related to fear of hostile military activity during his time in Vietnam.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, including work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The symptoms included suicidal ideation, impaired impulse control, and delusions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), finding that it is related to his active duty service. The heart disorder claim was also granted as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), due to an in-service personal assault. The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the issue can be decided.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including providing VCAA notice specific to PTSD claims based on in-service personal assault or harassment and obtaining possible service personnel records.

The Veteran's disc disease of the lumbar spine is found to be secondary to his service-connected bilateral sacroiliac strain. The claim for a psychiatric disability remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for schizophrenia and for a total disability compensation rating based on individual unemployability were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not timely file a substantive appeal as to the September 2002 rating decision, which resulted in the closure of his claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing psychiatric disorder did not clearly and unmistakably exist prior to service, but it also determined that this condition was not aggravated by service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, is granted based on a verified in-service stressor and current medical diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, is denied as there is no evidence of a disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has ordered additional development to secure complete clinical records of the Veteran's hospitalization at NRMC from December 1976 to February 1977. The case is remanded for further adjudication.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including manifestations of a personality disorder in service.