Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia, breathing problems (including as a result of allergies), and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain VA treatment records and to provide the Veteran with appropriate VA examinations for his cervical spine, low back, and acquired psychiatric disabilities. The case will be remanded for further review after these actions are completed.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred for treatment from January 8 to January 14, 2005 are denied as the hospitalization was due to an emergency commitment order and VA is not responsible for care.

The Board found that the acquired psychiatric disorder is not secondary to the service-connected left lower orbit fracture and denied the claim.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as hepatic encephalopathy, but the underlying causes were cirrhosis and hepatitis C. The appellant contends that the Veteran died due to his service-connected paranoid schizophrenia. However, there is conflicting evidence regarding the diagnosis of schizophrenia during service and at the time of death.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain records from various healthcare providers and will review the claims again after receiving these records.

The Board found that the Veteran's schizophrenia manifested to a compensable degree within one year of his separation from service, and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the appellant's current psychiatric disorder, chronic paranoid schizophrenia, is at least as likely as not present due to service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD. The issue of service connection for PTSD was also denied.

The Veteran's alcoholism is in complete remission and not incurred or aggravated by active military service. The Board denied the claim for service connection for alcoholism as it was not proximately due to or the result of any service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder, including a personality disorder, is not related to his active service. The right ankle sprain was also not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's vision condition and mental disorder (PTSD) are not service-connected due to lack of evidence supporting the in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for atypical headaches with combination muscle contraction headaches was denied by operation of law due to his failure to report for a scheduled VA examination. The case is also remanded for further development regarding the service connection issue, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's requests for service connection for hearing loss, back strain with recurrent back pain, acquired psychiatric disorder, and left hand/wrist carpal tunnel syndrome were denied as new and material evidence was not presented to reopen the claims. The Veteran's current psychiatric disorder is not linked to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and providing proper VCAA notice.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability and an increased rating for tinea cruris due to lack of competent evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have an acquired psychiatric disorder due to disease or injury incurred in service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board is remanding the claim for a rating higher than 60 percent for hepatitis C and duodenal ulcer disease to allow further development, including obtaining medical opinions. The TDIU claim will also be remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any of the Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.