Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied as there was no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service. The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence did not support the veteran's claims.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims for service connection for psychiatric disorder and left ankle disorder.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a mental disorder is being remanded due to incorrect categorization of the condition and incomplete notice.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than January 19, 84 for the award of a TDIU based on his service-connected schizophrenia with anxiety.

The veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia is being remanded due to the unavailability of his service medical records. The VA will attempt to obtain these records and any alternate sources, including from the Philadelphia Naval Hospital.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims of service connection for a back disorder, knee disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The new evidence received since the last final denial supports these claims.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, which had previously been denied in December 2001.

The veteran's claims for an increased rating for residuals of a right inguinal hernia repair and service connection for bilateral hearing loss were denied. The claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and PTSD) is considered 'unknown' as it does not involve service connection at all.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a mental disorder, including PTSD. The examiner found no evidence of PTSD and concluded that the veteran did not suffer from any psychiatric disorders related to his military service.

The October 2001 rating decision is final, and the additional evidence received since that decision does not meet the criteria for reopening the claim of service connection for paranoid schizophrenia.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include schizophrenia.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service, and therefore denies the claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have PTSD and his acquired psychiatric disorder is not related to service. The claim for substance abuse has no legal merit.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and an earlier effective date were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation or an earlier effective date.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding service connection for alcoholism and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a diagnosed psychiatric disability, including PTSD, that is etiologically related to an in-service stressor. The acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD was not present in service and is not etiologically related to service or any service-connected disability.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection and assignment of a 100 percent rating for paranoid schizophrenia was denied as the law does not allow such a claim to be granted.

The veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of lipoma excision, bilateral impairment of visual acuity, and disability manifested by dizziness are granted. The claim for a disability manifested by impaired thought process is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the veteran has PTSD or any other Axis I psychiatric diagnoses related to his military service.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for further development and readjudication, including providing VCAA-compliant notice and obtaining additional evidence. The claim will be considered on a mixed basis as new and material evidence has been received.