Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of the Veteran's alleged stressor of mortar attacks and obtaining VA treatment records. The Veteran should be afforded an appropriate VA psychiatric examination if the verified stressor is related to mortar attacks.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric and neurological disorders. The claims will be re-adjudicated after this development.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for further action due to a need to make a formal character of discharge determination regarding the Veteran's last period of active service and then re-adjudicate the issue on appeal.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but remands them for additional development. The claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder (including depression) is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete information from the Veteran regarding medical records. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board had not yet decided the claims of service connection for congestive heart failure and hypertension, which are now moot.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for syncope, blackout spells, and fainting spells; cardiovascular disorder; and acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision is based on a finding that these conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities are not related to service, including his alleged exposure in an armored tank. The VA examiner concluded that these conditions were more likely due to a long-term history of manual labor jobs, multiple injuries, and age-related degeneration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other mental health conditions, is not service-connected as there is no credible evidence of an in-service stressor. The claim for hepatitis C was also denied due to lack of a verified in-service event.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been denied. The appeal is dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn his appeals on several issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD is dismissed as the Veteran is already in receipt of service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for schizophrenia, paranoid type is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional records from Social Security Administration (SSA) and VA examination reports.

The Veteran's bladder/urinary disorder and psychiatric disorder claims have been denied as there is no evidence of a qualifying additional disability resulting from VA care, treatment, or examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's alleged stressors do not involve combat or fear of hostile military activity and are unverified. The competent and credible evidence does not support a finding that his acquired psychiatric disability is related to his military service.

The Board has denied reopening the claims for service connection for residuals of a back injury, schizoaffective disorder or schizophrenia, and left ear hearing loss disability due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a valid diagnosis of PTSD and his symptoms are more consistent with depression and anxiety. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, Anxiety Disorder) and sleep apnea is denied.

The Board finds that the appellant was insane at the time of the offenses leading to his discharge, thus not constituting a bar to VA benefits. Additionally, schizophrenia has been shown to have had its onset in military service and is therefore considered incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a cervical spine disability, right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities, right arm and left arm disabilities, as well as psychiatric disorder (listed as depression) and COPD, all secondary to service-connected conditions or other causes. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability.