Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability and headaches due to head trauma. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has determined that service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and PTSD, is not warranted. The Veteran's current psychiatric symptoms are attributed to his personality disorder and substance abuse rather than service-related trauma.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing VA treatment records and SSA disability determination records. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional information regarding his claimed stressors and for a VA examination. The claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board finds no basis in the schedular criteria for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss as of January 7, 2011.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia was received by VA on October 20, 1999. The RO denied the claim in January 2000 and did not receive a timely appeal.,In August 2003, the Veteran filed a new claim to reopen his service connection claim for paranoid schizophrenia based on additional service department records received. Service connection was granted effective August 1, 2003.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and an acquired psychiatric disorder. For diabetes mellitus, the claim was based on presumed exposure to Agent Orange. The psychiatric disorder claim did not involve any presumptive exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran did not have a current acquired psychiatric disability related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection due to a lack of VA examination and consideration of relevant STRs, including those from his military service. The Veteran needs to undergo a VA compensation examination to clarify all current mental disorders and determine their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hepatitis C, headaches, a low back disability, and a hearing loss disability. Service connection was granted for right leg varicose veins with a 10 percent evaluation effective from November 22, 2006.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD, neck disability, tinnitus, left ankle and bilateral foot disabilities, and asthma. The decision also noted that there was no evidence of a current psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, and migraines. The claim for a higher rating for PFB was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence submitted by the appellant and an inadequate VA medical opinion. The issue of service connection for a low back disability will be reconsidered, and the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, including depression and PTSD, will also be addressed.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD were denied, while his claim for erectile dysfunction was granted. The rating assigned is 0% (non-compensable), effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, is not related to service. The hepatitis C infection was caused by intravenous drug abuse. Substance abuse is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hepatitis C infection, or substance abuse cannot be established.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the remaining claims due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD and schizoaffective disorder is granted. The claim of service connection for PTSD is also granted, but the Board found that there was no in-service stressor to support this claim.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against finding that the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, related to active military service or events therein.

The Board found that the Veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and there was no verified in-service stressor. The evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric disorder related to service.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.