Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and acquired psychiatric disorder are related to his active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, existed prior to his period of service and were not aggravated by service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found no current diagnosis of PTSD and denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, right shoulder disability, defective vision, and skin disability of the foot. The Veteran's only diagnosed condition is chronic alcohol dependence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia was denied in February 1981. He did not appeal this decision within one year, and no new and material evidence was submitted during that period. The Veteran later filed a reopened claim on May 13, 2005, seeking service connection for PTSD and bipolar disorder. The effective date of his service connection award is set at the date of receipt of his reopened claim, which is May 13, 2005.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's reported in-service assault is credible and supported by corroborating evidence. The claim of service connection for a gynecological disorder remains pending as there are no specific findings or diagnoses provided.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, based on his periods of active duty service from May 28, 1968 to February 11, 1970 and August 5, 1970 to April 15, 1971 have been denied. The Veteran's service records show he received an 'other than honorable' discharge for his period of active duty from August 5, 1970 to April 15, 1971.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed schizophrenia did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include major depressive disorder, including as due to a service-connected disability is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder, is being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination. The case will be reviewed and readjudicated after obtaining a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD according to DSM-IV criteria and his Alzheimer's-type dementia and depressive disorder NOS did not manifest within one year of service. The evidence is insufficient to establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for migraine headaches and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder have been denied as the evidence does not support the presence of characteristic prostrating attacks or a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and increased ratings for headaches are also addressed.

The Veteran is competent to manage his own funds without limitation and has been granted direct receipt of VA compensation benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia, undifferentiated type, resulted in a total disability permanent in nature. The private hospitalization was deemed necessary due to an emergent medical condition that posed a serious threat to the life or health of the Veteran. VA facilities were not feasibly available during the relevant time period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is denied as there was no credible supporting evidence of the claimed in-service stressors and his diagnoses are not based on such events.

The Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to ensure that all necessary evidence is obtained and considered in connection with the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for any of his claimed conditions, as the evidence is against a finding that they are related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic psychiatric disorder in 2001. The Veteran submitted new evidence, but it does not relate to an unestablished fact that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain Social Security Administration records and ensure that all development actions have been conducted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder will be remanded for further action.