Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2013

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred in service due to Agent Orange exposure. The Board finds that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides, including Agent Orange, during his active duty in Thailand and Vietnam.

The Board found that the Veteran did not submit new and material evidence to reopen his claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, back disorder, and stomach disorder. The evidence submitted by the Veteran was deemed insufficient to establish a relationship between any current disability and active service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material, as it does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic psychiatric disorder in service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, as well as his claim for a sleep disorder. The Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are considered to be related to post-service substance abuse.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is unrelated to a service-connected disease or injury. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to engage and retain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and schizophrenia, finding that the evidence did not support a link to military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disorders did not develop during her military service and were not related to any in-service events or conditions. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right knee and left knee disabilities, chest pain, back disability, night sweats, a psychiatric condition (claimed as sleeping problems), cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, jaw pain, and hearing loss were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or associations with service.

The Board found that there was insufficient evidence to establish a verified stressor and therefore denied service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's other diagnosed conditions (nonspecific psychosocial stress, depression, and bereavement) were not related to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the April 1976 rating decision that denied service connection for a nervous disorder (paranoid schizophrenia). The evidence did not show onset of the condition within one year of service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder or dyspepsia that is related to his active service. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's cranial disability and psychiatric disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor are they presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to Agent Orange or other environmental factors. The claim was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as there is no credible evidence supporting the claimed stressors and the preponderance of the competent medical evidence does not support a finding that he has any other psychiatric condition.

The Board found that a psychiatric disorder did not begin during service and is not related to service, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss during service or for many years after discharge, and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss. The respiratory disorder claim was also denied as there is no indication of exposure to herbicides or other known risk factors. Service connection for PTSD was not granted due to lack of in-service diagnosis.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for schizophrenia and remanded to obtain additional evidence, including SSA disability records, personnel file, private treatment records, and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU are being remanded due to incomplete records, including missing mental health treatment records from his period of active duty. A new examination is required to determine the nature and likely etiology of any current psychiatric disability.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not incurred in service.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no jurisdiction remains to adjudicate the merits of this claim.