Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no legal basis for higher schedular evaluations for tinnitus, and the criteria for service connection were not met for left ear disorder, neck disorder, cervical spine disorder, or psychiatric disorder.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder. The new evidence submitted includes opinions from Dr. C.B., who opines that the Veteran's current mental health conditions are related to his in-service boxing injury, while Dr. K.B.'s earlier opinion suggested pre-existing psychological issues. A VA examination is needed to determine if any pre-existing conditions were clearly and unmistakably not aggravated by service.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and attempting to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The claims of service connection for an eye disability, a neck disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder will be reconsidered.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for seizures, an acquired psychiatric disability including schizophrenia, and diabetes mellitus. The decision is final as it was a denial on the merits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD and for PTSD, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran is granted service connection for PTSD, a left knee disorder, and residuals of frostbite (congelatio) of the fingers. The Board finds that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a Board hearing and the need to issue a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, has been denied as he does not have this condition. His current diagnosis is alcohol abuse, which is unrelated to his military service and thus cannot be service-connected.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of a psychiatric disability and also denied his claims for increased ratings and total rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and inextricably intertwined issues.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected scar, residual of first and second degree burns, left abdominal was denied. The Board found that the current 10 percent disability rating adequately reflects the severity of the condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include schizophrenia (which is diagnosed as schizoaffective disorder), was incurred during active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a bilateral upper and lower extremity disability or psychiatric disorder that is etiologically related to any incident in service, including chemical exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a diagnosed psychiatric disability of PTSD and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) are not related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, a neck disability, and hypertension as new and material evidence was not received to reopen these claims. The Board also found that there is no medical evidence linking these disabilities to active duty service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a current disability related to service. The Board also noted that the vertigo claim could not be decided without additional examination.

The Board has determined that the appellant's September 17, 1981 letter to Senator Robert C. Byrd constituted an informal claim for service connection of psychiatric disability. As a result, the effective date for this grant is set at September 17, 2012.