Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, right knee disability (claimed as secondary to a service-connected left knee disability), carpal tunnel syndrome, and psychiatric disability.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder, including a stress disorder, was not incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the presence of anxiety diagnoses in service records and post-service hospitalization, which may affect the determination of whether any current psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic hypertension, a chronic spine disorder, a chronic right hip disorder, a chronic left hip disorder, and a generalized arthritis disorder. The claims for service connection for chronic myositis, chronic right upper extremity neuropathy, chronic left upper extremity neuropathy, chronic right lower extremity neuropathy, chronic left lower extremity neuropathy, and chronic erectile dysfunction are also denied.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for lumbar spine bulging and herniated disc with paravertebral muscle spasm/myositis, effective June 24, 2006. The veteran's other claims were remanded.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if service connection can be established for the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia. The case is being remanded for further examination and review.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA clinical records and conducting a psychiatric examination to determine if the veteran has a current psychiatric disorder, including an organic brain syndrome, that is related to service.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of February 21, 2004 for the right hand disability and assigned a 10% rating. The schizophrenia claim is denied as there was no earlier effective date prior to February 26, 2004.

The veteran's chronic headaches and psychiatric disability (PTSD) were not incurred or aggravated by active duty. The Board denied service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for hearing loss in either ear due to disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active military service. As a result, the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for psychiatric disability and dental disability is granted. The decision focuses on whether these conditions are related to service, with a determination made based on the merits of the claims rather than any presumption or secondary condition.

The Board has determined that an effective date of June 28, 1993 is granted for the grant of a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a confirmed in-service stressor and therefore cannot establish service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder. The acquired psychiatric disorder was also denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA aid and attendance examination to evaluate his current level of disability, including his ability to care for himself at home.

The veteran's claims for service connection for variously diagnosed psychiatric disorder, chronic fatigue, and memory loss have been denied as there is no evidence to support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Board found that the veteran timely filed a Substantive Appeal regarding his claim for an earlier effective date for service connection and rating for schizophrenia. The appeal was granted.

The veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his scar of the left foot, were denied increased ratings. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's right and left knee disabilities were not granted increased ratings. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's scar of the left foot was not granted a compensable rating. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's headaches were not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's bilateral pes planus was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's sleep disorder was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's multiple joint pain was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's neurological disorder was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's chest pains were not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's memory loss was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's dizziness was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and psychiatric disorder other than PTSD have all been reopened but are still denied.

The Board denied service connection for schizophrenia, paranoid type in April 1985 due to lack of evidence showing a chronic psychiatric disorder during service and no objective findings upon separation.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the veteran's schizoaffective disorder began during active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, finding no evidence of such condition during active duty and concluding that the current diagnosis is not related to service.