Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia due to new and material evidence submitted since the December 1981 rating decision. The issue is now remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for a higher initial rating for low back disability and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as bipolar disorder) due to incomplete development of evidence, including failure to provide notice of revised rating criteria and additional VA examination. The veteran is also required to submit any pertinent evidence in his possession.

The Board found that the veteran does not have PTSD and neither depression nor dysthymia was related to his service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, finding that there was no evidence of a psychosis within one year post-service and concluding that the current psychiatric disabilities are not related to service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO level.

The veteran's service-connected lumbar spine arthritis is rated at 40 percent, and his ano-rectal fistula is rated at 10 percent. The other issues are resolved in the veteran's favor.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, a psychiatric disorder, and a thoracic spine disorder are denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his period of active duty.

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder existed prior to service and was not aggravated by military service, leading to a denial of his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's schizophrenia is not related to his military service and denied all claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is not related to his military service, and a new VA examination is needed to clarify the nature and extent of any psychiatric disorder found to be present.

The Board finds that there is at least as likely as not a relationship between the veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder (schizophrenia, undifferentiated) and her service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The veteran's appeal of the September 2001 denial of service connection for a psychiatric disability was dismissed as she did not file a timely substantive appeal.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current acquired psychiatric disorder related to military service and denied his claim.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and schizophrenia, finding no evidence of these conditions in service or post-service. The claim for an earlier effective date for nonservice-connected pension benefits was also denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the veteran's service dates and obtain all relevant medical records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and an increased rating for bilateral pes planus were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for the psychiatric disorder, as there was no in-service manifestation or nexus to service. For the increased rating claim, the veteran failed to report for necessary VA examinations without good cause.

The veteran is seeking service connection for his acquired psychiatric disorder, which he claims is related to his service-connected duodenal ulcer and gastroesophageal reflux disease. The Board has decided that further development is needed before a decision can be made.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service occurrence of hypertension or an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Board denied an increased rating for schizophrenia, disorganized type, finding that the veteran's symptoms do not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional due process considerations, including providing the veteran with proper VCAA notice regarding her claim to reopen a service connection claim for schizophrenia.