Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for diffuse disc syndrome with pain and loss of motion, and bulging disc at L4-L5 and L5-S1 was denied as his range of motion did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and PTSD. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence of a direct relationship to service.

The Veteran's gastritis has been manifested by daily pain and discomfort, nausea, constipation, vomiting, and diarrhea. The Board finds that a noncompensable rating is appropriate as the evidence does not show any severe impairment of health or recurrent incapacitating episodes averaging at least four times per year.,There is no current diagnosis of PTSD in the Veteran's record. The acquired psychiatric disorder to include dysthymic disorder and PTSD was not shown in service, nor has it been related to a disease or injury of service origin.

The Board has remanded the case for a new video hearing due to confusion with the Veteran's address and change in representative.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and verifying the Veteran's claimed stressors. The Veteran is also reminded of his obligation to cooperate with VA in obtaining relevant evidence.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and a chronic acquired psychiatric disability, finding that the Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence of in-service noise exposure or verified stressors.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, chronic rhinitis, and right wrist disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service personnel records and outdated VA treatment records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the newly obtained evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to deficiencies in previous decisions, including inadequate reasons and bases for denying a separate disability rating for bladder impairment and an increased rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's psychiatric disorder claim is also remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied increased ratings for right and left foot plantar fasciitis, finding that the Veteran's disability did not meet or approximate criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for nonservice-connected pension benefits, finding that the denial of his March 2008 claim was not appealed and thus does not have jurisdiction over this matter. The case is now remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and seek a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has granted a higher initial disability evaluation of 30 percent effective March 16, 2009. The other issues remain unresolved.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was granted, but no specific effective date was assigned as it is related to reopening his claim on new evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for asthma and bronchitis. The Veteran was found not to have these conditions during his active duty or at any time thereafter, based on a lack of medical evidence supporting their existence.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosed acquired psychiatric disability, specifically claimed as PTSD. The Board finds that the service-connected meningitis did not cause or aggravate any acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, breast cancer due to radiation exposure, and osteopenia have been denied. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service disease or injury that resulted in the current conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's respiratory disorder, low back disability, acquired psychiatric disability, and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and did not develop any gastrointestinal disorder in service or to a disabling degree within the first post-service year. The claims for these conditions were therefore denied.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's diagnoses included toxic psychosis, schizophrenia in different forms, personality disorders, bipolar disorder, and psychotic disorder NOS, none of which were found to be related to service.