Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran's alcoholism is not service-connected as it was caused by his own willful misconduct, including abuse of alcohol. The acquired psychiatric disability is not related to service and thus cannot be secondary to the alcoholism.

The Board found no evidence of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, that is service-connected. The veteran's claims for a chronic cervical disorder were not addressed as they are no longer part of the current appeal.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for psychiatric disability, and it is granted.

The veteran is entitled to the payment of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at the Heartland Medical Center from June 8-11, 2004 due to his service-connected schizophrenia and the fact that a VA facility was not feasibly available.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and the veteran's claims for increased ratings have been addressed in a separate decision. The issues of entitlement to service connection for stomach problems, including hiatal hernia, loss of feeling in the left side, night sweats, chronic fatigue, and a swollen right arm and hand, genitourinary disorder and a psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Board found no evidence of a compensable psychiatric disorder in service or within any applicable presumptive period, and no competent, probative evidence linking the veteran's current psychiatric disorder to his period of active service from January 1955 to January 1957. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found no evidence of PTSD and concluded that the veteran's current psychiatric disability is not related to his service. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including dysthymic disorder, was denied.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation on account of a need for regular aid and attendance is denied, as there is no credible or competent evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities require the aid and attendance of another person. The veteran's claim for a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring an automobile or other conveyance with special adaptive equipment is also denied due to lack of qualifying service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's chronic schizophrenia, undifferentiated type with depressive features is manifested by total social and industrial inadaptability for the period June 7, 1989 through August 1, 2002. The Board has granted a 100 percent evaluation based on this finding.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a video conference hearing. The service connection issue remains unresolved and will be addressed in the future.

The Board denied reopening the claim as to whether the appellant was permanently incapable of self-support due to disability prior to age 18 for the purpose of helpless child benefits, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, fungal infection of the skin, respiratory disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (post-traumatic stress disorder), memory loss, and chronic respiratory disorder. The veteran's irritable bowel syndrome was granted service connection with a noncompensable evaluation.

The veteran's service-connected schizophrenia warrants a 100 percent evaluation, effective prior to and after March 13, 2002.

The Board has determined that there is no medical evidence of laryngitis, tonsillitis, or a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) related to service. The veteran's claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed in-service stressors are not supported by credible supporting evidence and therefore, service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder cannot be established.

The Board has determined that an effective date earlier than July 21, 1997 for the grant of service connection for schizophrenia is denied.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The record does not support a conclusion that the veteran engaged in combat while on active duty or provided credible supporting evidence to corroborate his report of in-service stressors upon which this diagnosis was based.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral Bell's palsy, Lyme disease, a psychiatric disorder (to include depression), and rashes. The right shoulder dislocation and left inguinal hernia were each assigned noncompensable disability ratings.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination and compliance with the Board's October 2004 remand directives.

The Board finds that the veteran's right knee disorder is secondary to his service-connected left knee disability and grants this claim.