Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2011

The Veteran's chronic disability exhibited by headaches was not incurred or aggravated in service. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for further examination. The Veteran contends he has Gulf War Syndrome, but there is no current diagnosis of such.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for joint disability, depression, back pain, and chest pain as there is no competent evidence of a chronic disability in service or related to service. The fibro-osseous lesions are not considered service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's diagnosis of PTSD is at least as likely as not related to his military service, including learning about the deaths of two friends in an explosion aboard the U.S.S. Iowa.

The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder related to service, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus did not develop due to service, as there was no evidence of noise exposure or other causation. The psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) is denied as well.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic right knee disorder and depression, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a VA or VA-contracted psychiatrist or psychologist to provide opinions regarding whether his reported stressors are adequate to support a diagnosis of PTSD and if his symptoms are related to those stressors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, specifically paranoid schizophrenia, is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and a depressive disorder, not otherwise specified, and entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination and additional development of records.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied as there is no evidence of current disability meeting VA criteria.

Service connection was granted for left shoulder, cervical spine, and thoracolumbar spine disorders effective June 3, 1998.,The Veteran's claims were denied initially in February 1994.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request for an extension of his delimiting date for Chapter 30 educational benefits, allowing him to use these benefits until December 12, 2002. The decision is based on the Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia and the fact that he was prevented from initiating or completing a chosen program of education due to this disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying the Veteran's service dates. The claims will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to adjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left eye condition and a psychiatric disorder, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the former claim. The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence to establish service connection for either disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's claims for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD were denied as there is no credible evidence supporting his claimed stressors, and he did not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's closed head injury was incurred in the line of duty. As a result, the Board finds that the Veteran's closed head injury resulted in a psychiatric disability and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorder, is found to be service-connected due to in-service trauma. Residuals of a traumatic brain injury are also found to be service-connected. The right knee disorder is not rated higher than 10 percent.