Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and for a psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression), finding that new and material evidence was received to reopen these claims. The low back disorder is being considered secondary to his service-connected bilateral feet and ankle disorders, while the psychiatric disorder claim remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for PTSD and found that no new and material evidence had been submitted. The Veteran's service in Vietnam was not confirmed, and he did not provide any credible evidence supporting his claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and substance abuse disorders were not incurred or aggravated by military service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and Andrews Mental Health Center. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in relative equipoise on whether the Veteran's hepatitis C and acquired psychiatric disorder are related to service. Service connection for both conditions is granted.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is currently rated at 50 percent, and his claims for higher ratings or service connection are denied. His acquired psychiatric disorders are not service-connected as PTSD did not manifest within one year of separation from service, and there is no evidence to support a secondary relationship with his sleep apnea. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is also denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities and whether they are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including verifying an alleged stressor and obtaining VA examinations to assess his current disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 were denied, with the exception of his claim for schizophrenia which was granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric, respiratory, or sleep disorders. The Veteran's claims are being remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not meet the criteria for reopening the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, specifically schizophrenia. The new evidence is considered cumulative and redundant.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, but finds that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and schizoaffective disorder, clearly and unmistakably preexisted his military service and did not increase in severity during service or otherwise worsen beyond the natural progression of the condition in service. Therefore, service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to concerns about the adequacy of the PTSD examination and the need to obtain relevant VA treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder did not begin during service and is not etiologically related to his active military service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle disability, bilateral lower extremity disability, low back disability, and psychiatric disability. The evidence did not support a finding of chronic conditions related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain Social Security Administration records and ships logs, as well as any outstanding VA medical records. The Veteran will also be provided an examination to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine if the appellant has PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus related to service.

The Board found the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, denied as his current condition is not related to a disease or injury in service, including a personal assault during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD due to military sexual trauma. The evidence did not support the occurrence of the claimed in-service stressors.