Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2010

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder is not related to military service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as bipolar II disorder, was incurred in active service. The Board finds that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is also related to his military service.

The Board found that there is no credible evidence linking a psychiatric disorder or varicose veins to service, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, determined to be a schizoaffective disorder, which is not related to his military service.

The Board granted an effective date of September 12, 2002 for a 100 percent schedular rating for schizophrenia. The Veteran's claim was factually ascertainable to have met the criteria for such a rating within one year prior to his September 12, 2002 claim.

The Board has ordered remand of the issues due to inadequate reasons and bases for denying service connection for Crohn's disease and schizophrenia. The Veteran needs to be provided with VA examinations to determine if there is a 50 percent or better probability that his conditions are related to his active service.

The Board's August 15, 1977 decision denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is found to be clearly and unmistakably erroneous due to the failure to consider whether there was clear and unmistakable evidence of no aggravation in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disability and hypertension are being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and insufficient information on his alleged service stressors.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA medical records and a special psychiatric examination. The goal is to determine if the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, that arose in or as a result of service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary heart disease is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and grants this claim. The issue of service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, remains pending.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral knee disabilities are not rated higher than the current assigned ratings.

The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence received since the last decision.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, secondary to her service-connected hypothyroidism, is currently rated at 30 percent prior to February 12, 2007; 10 percent from February 12, 2007 through February 9, 2009; and 30 percent beginning February 10, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or injury leading to current disabilities, and the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that any current conditions are related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's in-service stressors have not been corroborated, and thus his claim for service connection for PTSD was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and Biloxi Veteran's Center records, arranging for a psychiatric examination, and considering the broader matter of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic paranoid schizophrenia was incurred in service and is granted service connection. The cardiovascular disorder, however, is not shown to be related to his service-connected psychiatric disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have a service-connectable psychiatric disability during service and that his current psychiatric disorder is not due to his military service. Therefore, service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's reported in-service stressor, which included an attack involving rockets, mortars, and grenades, could not be verified. The evidence did not support his claim for service connection for PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and for a cervical spine disorder, including secondary degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine. The Veteran's claim was based on allegations of in-service stressors and abuse by her ex-husband, but there were no verified in-service stressors or evidence linking any diagnosed conditions to service.