Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right foot disability, which preexisted service and was aggravated during service, meets the criteria for service connection. The psychiatric issue is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to service connection for a low back disorder and a psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to a low back disorder.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal seeking to reopen a claim of service connection for schizophrenia, and the Board has dismissed the appeal due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and finds that new evidence submitted since the last denial raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The Veteran's hearing loss is not considered a disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is not service-connected as it did not manifest during her period of active duty and there is no evidence linking the condition to a risk factor or incident of service. The psychiatric disorder claim has been denied due to lack of credible evidence establishing continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and right ankle strain, but denied the remaining claims. The Veteran's skin rash disability claim is referred to the RO.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a personal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge seated at the RO. The issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II; psychiatric disability; and low back disability are pending.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that the Veteran did not experience continuous symptoms of a mental health condition since service separation and concluding that his current diagnosis is unrelated to active duty.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia. The Veteran's pre-existing condition of schizophrenia was aggravated by her military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 1, 2002 for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence indicating that he filed a formal or informal claim before this date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination. The issues are whether service connection should be granted for stomach condition and acquired psychiatric condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder, finding that there was no credible evidence linking any current psychiatric condition to service. The Veteran's statements regarding his in-service stressor were deemed not credible.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a right knee disability, hearing loss of the right ear, and tinnitus. The issues were found to be not supported by clear and unmistakable evidence that the conditions preexisted service or were aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for a right inguinal hernia and a psychiatric disorder, finding that the appellant did not have active duty service to establish veteran status. The Board also found no evidence of an injury or disease during his period of INACDUTRA which would qualify as active service.

The Board found no evidence of a psychiatric disorder during the Veteran's honorable period of service and determined that any current psychiatric condition is not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left leg disability and a psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's preexisting conditions were aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, fibromyalgia, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include bipolar disorder or depression) as there was no clear and unmistakable evidence showing a preexisting condition that worsened during service. The VA examinations did not provide sufficient nexus opinions to establish direct service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and anxiety), and a right knee disorder. The claim to reopen the low back disorder was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection was not granted for the acquired psychiatric disorder or the right knee disorder as there is no direct evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for muscle tension headaches and a psychiatric disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records from private providers.