Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case for a VA psychiatric examination to assess the probable nature, etiology, and date of onset of any current psychiatric disorder. The examiner is asked to opine whether it is at least as likely as not that any currently-diagnosed psychiatric disorder had its onset during civilian life prior to service or is otherwise etiologically related to the Veteran's service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD and schizophrenia. The case is remanded for further development including a VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a rash on the hands and feet, and residuals of a head injury (status-post repair of subdural hematoma with headaches) have been granted. The appeal is now pending before the Board.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and peripheral neuropathy of the extremities. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for laryngeal residuals was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a personality disorder, finding that these conditions are not related to his active duty service.

The Board found no credible evidence supporting the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which she linked to a personal assault during her military service. The Board concluded that there was insufficient evidence to establish the occurrence of such an event and thus denied the claim.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an ulcer disorder and a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, has been reopened. The evidence received since the previous denial shows that the Veteran experienced symptoms related to these conditions during his active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed PTSD was not linked to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including as secondary to service-connected meningitis, requires additional development and review of his SSA records. The Veteran is also required to undergo a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current acquired psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia, paranoid type has been dismissed due to withdrawal. The Veteran is granted compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. ¶ 1151 for diabetes mellitus, which was a result of VA treatment. The Board finds that the Veteran's renal disease and coronary artery disease are secondary to his diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability, diagnosed as tinea and onychomycosis, was found to have been incurred in service. The claim for a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) is pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right thigh scars, as well as his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), were previously denied. The current decision denies these claims again due to the lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression, is denied. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and concussion are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration of new regulations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches and psychiatric disability, specifically depression and anxiety, are not related to service. The preponderance of evidence shows that any present findings of these conditions did not occur during active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia, finding that it was incurred during active duty training (ACDUTRA) in November 1993.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, also claimed as a nervous condition secondary to a service-connected disability. The Veteran's current diagnosis is an acquired psychiatric disorder, but there is no direct or secondary evidence linking this condition to his active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and outpatient dental treatment purposes for front teeth, finding that there was no evidence of service trauma or combat wounds to support his assertions.

The Board found that the Veteran is not competent to manage his VA benefits due to his mental health condition, specifically paranoid schizophrenia.