Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2013

The Board denied reopening of the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including schizophrenia) and a lumbar spine disability due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has restored the Veteran's VA disability compensation benefits from December 27, 2001 to June 16, 2004 due to a finding that he did not have fugitive felon status during this period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted.,Service connection is also established for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include mood disorder, schizophrenia, depression, a paranoid disorder, psychotic disorder, anxiety, and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a neck disability, and a psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to determine their etiology.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The Veteran is also to be scheduled for a VA examination regarding his claimed head injuries, tinnitus, and psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder, finding that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease. The claim was also found to be unrelated to any event during service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the appellant's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, fibromyalgia, and TMJ disorder. The appellant's current conditions are not shown to be related to her military service.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and a personality disorder, as the evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there is sufficient evidence to establish a current diagnosis and a link between his in-service stressor and his current symptoms. The heart disability claim was remanded due to additional development being required.

The Board denied service connection for hemorrhoids, essential hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, and a psychiatric disorder as the Veteran's current conditions did not develop during or as a result of his military service.

The Veteran's schizophrenia, paranoid type, is rated at a 70 percent disability rating effective February 10, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia and depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and an examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, bipolar affective disorder with psychotic features, and schizoaffective disorder. However, the claim remains denied as the preponderance of the evidence does not support service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disorder, hypertension, residuals of a stroke, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression), and shortness of breath. The evidence did not establish direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for schizophrenia and depression, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and sleep apnea due to internal inconsistencies in the psychiatric examination. The claim of service connection for PTSD is also remanded for a new VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD was not incurred in service and did not manifest within one year of separation, thus denying service connection for PTSD. For psychiatric disability other than PTSD, the Board concluded there is no evidence to support a finding that any such condition was related to service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but it remains denied as new and material evidence was not provided to substantiate the claim.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and granted service connection for chondromalacia of the right knee. The psychiatric claim was remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset or etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorder.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder (other than a phobia disorder) for service connection purposes, thus denying the claim.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (diagnosed as a major depressive disorder) pre-existed his military service and was not aggravated by active service.