Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, is withdrawn. The staphylococcal infection to the left knee resolved after treatment and is not currently shown. The cause of the Veteran's eczema is not related to his total knee replacement and thus is not a result of carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on the part of VA in furnishing the hospital care, medical or surgical treatment, or examination.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied, but his depression is found to be secondary to his already service-connected low back disability. His low back disability remains at a 60 percent rating.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the TDIU rating, finding that June 20, 2002 is the correct date as it was when the Veteran's combined evaluation reached 70% and he became eligible for a TDIU. The competency of the Veteran to handle VA funds was addressed but not decided.

The Veteran's statements regarding a personal assault during service in Vietnam are credible, and the preponderance of medical evidence supports an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder as a result of his claimed in-service stressors. Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is granted, but no increased rating or TDIU is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disabilities other than PTSD, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, finding no competent evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities are not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Veteran's current period of unemployment is due to his service-connected right 5th metacarpalphalangeal joint disability.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine injury and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are not service-connected.,Service connection for hearing loss is not addressed in this decision.

The Board is remanding the claims for service connection for left and right knee disorders, left and right shoulder disorders, headaches, vertigo, and hearing loss to the RO via the AMC for further development before readjudicating these claims on their underlying merits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and determine the etiology of her claimed conditions.

The Veteran does not currently suffer from paranoid schizophrenia and the Board finds that service connection for this condition cannot be granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected schizophrenic reaction associated with headaches is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA neuropsychiatric examination and consideration of whether the Veteran's headaches are part of his schizophrenia or a separate disability.

The Board found that there is no competent and credible evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's lactose intolerance and service, and denied his claim for service connection. The psychiatric disorder claim was remanded due to insufficient development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and acquired psychiatric disorder (panic disorder) were incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination and clarification of representation. The appellant's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is pending.

The Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, that manifested during or as a result of his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, including as secondary to tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is now pending with instructions to obtain VA medical records, provide a new opinion from the March 2010 examiner or another physician if necessary, and readjudicate the claim.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), bilateral flat feet, and chronic low back strain are all found to be related to his military service. The claim for increased disability evaluation for the lumbar spine is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder due to new and material evidence submitted since the April 2005 rating decision. The medical evidence now shows that bipolar disorder is related to his military service.