Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, depression, and schizophrenia was denied as there is no medical evidence showing a current disability that manifested during or as a result of his military service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing acuity was not found to be worse than Level I, and thus a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss is denied. The claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss and variously diagnosed psychiatric disability are remanded due to outstanding records.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being reviewed, as well as his claim for an initial compensable disability evaluation for bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for psychiatric disability was denied as he does not have a current psychiatric disorder. The low back disability rating remains unchanged.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hip disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and lumbar spine disorder have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal. The claim of service connection for a psychiatric condition has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is remanded due to insufficient evidence to verify the claimed stressors and determine if they meet the definition of 'fear of hostile military or terrorist activity'.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders other than PTSD are not related to service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the case for further proceedings consistent with a November 2011 memorandum decision from the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

The Board found no evidence of a current psychiatric disability, including PTSD, or chronic asthma during service. The Veteran did not have any diagnosed conditions noted in her service records and there is insufficient credible lay evidence to establish continuity of symptoms since service. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and service connection for a psychiatric disorder, headaches, cognitive changes, and memory loss as due to an undiagnosed illness. The Veteran's claim for service connection was reopened based on new evidence.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to exposure to Agent Orange. The claim was reopened based on new evidence but denied as there is no clear evidence of a nexus between the current condition and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, was incurred as a result of an in-service personal assault. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including chronic schizophrenia, paranoid schizophrenia, adjustment disorder with depressed mood, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims file.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional notice and further evidentiary development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left shoulder disorder due to his Merchant Marine service not qualifying as active military service. The Board also found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim of service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, but remanded for further development including obtaining VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a sternoclavicular sprain is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has provided credible evidence to establish continuity of symptoms since service and current disability, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his low back disability, psychiatric disorder, and erectile dysfunction, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The Board finds that the appellant's acquired psychiatric disorders, including paranoid schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder, began during his period of active duty training (ACDUTRA). The claim is granted.

The Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to disease or injury which was incurred in or aggravated by service.