Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2014

The Board found that the appellant's schizophrenia did not have its onset during a period of active duty or ACDUTRA, and was not aggravated during such periods. Therefore, service connection for schizophrenia was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and have denied all of his claims.

The Board has granted service connection for Hepatitis C, finding it at least as likely as not that the Veteran's Hepatitis C is attributable to service. The claims of service connection for PTSD and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD including a mood disorder remain denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder or residuals of frostbite related to his active service. The claim for these conditions is therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability or persistent/recurrent symptoms related to his active service, and the VA examinations did not support any nexus between his claimed conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder is related to service and grants her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verification of all periods of active duty and obtaining relevant medical records. The Veteran will also be scheduled for VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for various disabilities and assigned initial ratings, but denied the petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is pending as it relates to a separate issue.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development including obtaining a medical opinion regarding service connection and the relationship between schizoaffective disorder and military service. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing with the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot proceed with the merits of this case as he is no longer alive.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for paranoid schizophrenia and found that the Veteran is not competent to receive direct payment of disability compensation benefits. The case is being remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's psychiatric and cognitive disabilities, as well as her peripheral neuropathy, are found to be caused by a vitamin B-12 deficiency resulting from the gastric bypass surgery performed at VA in October 1989. The disability is not service-connected but was proximately caused by VA carelessness or lack of proper skill.

The Board denied service connection for a nervous condition (classified as paranoid-type schizophrenic reaction) in February 2014, finding that the evidence did not support clear and unmistakable error.

The Board is considering whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically schizophrenia. The decision will determine if the Veteran's recent submitted evidence meets the criteria for reopening his claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, low back disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (schizoaffective disorder with depressive features), and glaucoma were not supported by credible evidence of in-service injury or chronic symptoms. The Board denied these service connection claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no current disability or evidence of a chronic condition during service. The Veteran's testimony regarding his symptoms and treatment were considered but did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis, an in-service stressor, and a link between the two.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for schizophrenia, finding that the new evidence did not meet the threshold required under 38 C.F.R. § 3.156(a) to be considered material.