Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right shoulder pain, skin condition of the head and arms (including as due to herbicide exposure), hearing loss, and tinnitus were all denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of a current disability in service or within one year post-service, and that any current conditions are not related to service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for PTSD and ulcers, but denied them based on lack of new and material evidence. The claim for hypertension is remanded due to its inextricability with the psychiatric disorder claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, cervical spine disorders, lumbosacral spine disorders, residuals of a left humeral fracture (steel plate in left arm), and severe joint disease are not related to his active service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an examination to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorder. The Veteran seeks service connection for PTSD or other acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his service-connected PTSD did not contribute substantially or materially to his death.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for chronic nosebleeds and PTSD, finding that there was no evidence of a valid claim at the time of the Veteran's death.

The Board denied all of the Veteran's claims, including those for service connection and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the seizure disorder pre-existed service and was not permanently aggravated during service, and that the psychiatric, orthopedic, and dental disorders were not shown in service or caused by service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including paranoid schizophrenia, was not shown in service or within one year of discharge from active duty and is not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was incurred in or aggravated by active duty service, and thus grants his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the appellant did not have a verified stressor for PTSD, and his acquired psychiatric disorder is not shown in service or within the initial post separation year. Hepatitis C was unrelated to any incident of service. Pes planus preexisted service and was not aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and right knee disorders are denied. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a link between any diagnosed conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for nonservice-connected pension, finding that the earliest assignable effective date is July 19, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability and a psychiatric disability, other than anxiety neurosis, were denied. The claim for the shoulder disability was previously denied on direct service connection grounds, while the psychiatric disability claim is based on secondary service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and psychiatric disability other than PTSD, finding that there is no credible evidence to support the occurrence of the claimed stressors.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is not service-connected.,The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability was first manifested many years after service and is not related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed stressor events have not been corroborated by credible supporting evidence and that his service treatment records are devoid of any findings of or references to a psychiatric disorder. Therefore, the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) and bilateral hearing loss were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the appellant's failure to report for a VA examination, and now requests another examination at a different facility.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, hypertension, a heart disorder, skin cancer, sinus disorder, and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not establish that any of these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.