Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2009

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for a personal hearing before the Board at the local office in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD, but he does have established diagnoses of panic disorder with agoraphobia. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for schizophrenia is denied as it seeks a benefit not provided by law.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his previously-denied service-connection claim for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD, claiming it as bipolar disorder. The new evidence submitted by the Veteran's aunt did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depression is service-connected, with its onset during active duty. The claim for PTSD was denied as there was no evidence of a diagnosed condition in accordance with DSM-IV standards.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including verifying the Veteran's address and determining if he desires a hearing before the Board.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability related to loss of use of either hand, bilateral knee disorder, low back disorder, respiratory disorder (sinusitis), or sleep apnea. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied as there is no competent medical evidence showing such a condition was incurred in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, traumatic arthritis of the left knee, and a psychiatric disability including anxiety, depression, and psychosis. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records. The right eye loss is already service-connected with a rating of 40%.

The Board denied service connection for dermatophytosis of the right foot, residuals of frostbite to include infection of toenails, and an acquired psychiatric disorder including depressive disorder, not otherwise specified. The Veteran's dermatophytosis was found not related to service or a service-connected condition. Residuals of frostbite were also found not related to service or a service-connected condition. The Board concluded that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder is not related to his service-connected rhinosinusitis.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a mental disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional records and information.

The Veteran's residuals of a right inguinal hernia are rated at 10 percent, and his acquired psychiatric disorder is service connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 1, 1985 to January 30, 1989 for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including insomnia, skin disability, acquired psychiatric disability, low back disability, right leg disability, and right shoulder disability, were not incurred or aggravated by active military service. The claim for hypertension was also denied as it was not incurred in service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied as there is no current diagnosis.,Service connection for a bilateral hand disability and sleep disorder were also denied. The Veteran's left index finger disability has been granted service connection, but the effective date of August 27, 2003 remains unchanged.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disability pre-existed his military service and was not aggravated by service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Hillcrest Medical Center on March 12, 2006 is denied because the evidence does not show that he was in an emergency situation, received prior authorization from VA, or sought post-treatment authorization within 72 hours. The care provided did not meet one of the regulatory conditions for payment under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1728 and 38 C.F.R. § 17.120.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, as it has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verifying a stressor event and obtaining VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed conditions.