Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2000

The VA determined that the veteran's psychiatric disability, bipolar disorder with history of schizophrenic reaction, is currently evaluated at a 30 percent rating and does not warrant an increased evaluation.

The veteran's claims of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and hypertension are granted. The initial rating for the scar from a left inguinal hernia repair is assigned as 0 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current psychiatric disability, classified as a depressive disorder, is related to his active service and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder, psychiatric disorder, and skin disorder. However, it denied these claims on their merits.

The veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected schizophrenia is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 70 percent for his service-connected schizophrenia and entitlement to TDIU, finding that the evidence did not support an increased disability rating or a finding of unemployability due to his service-connected condition.

The Board found no evidence of a current psychiatric disorder related to service and denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and pension benefits due to his nonservice-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the appellant's schizophrenia pre-existed his period of active duty for training and did not increase in disability during service. Therefore, it was determined that the appellant's schizophrenia was not aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, a psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, and a compensable evaluation for pseudofolliculitis barbae. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left knee strain with chondromalacia was also denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD. The veteran's PTSD is found to be incurred during active military service. Service connection is granted for impotency as secondary to hypertension, a back disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and sleep apnea.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation was granted on January 31, 1996 with a 100% disability rating effective from that date. The Board found it not factually ascertainable that the veteran was entitled to earlier effective dates.

The Board denied service connection for schizophrenia, concluding the claim was not well-grounded due to lack of competent medical evidence.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, despite additional medical records indicating a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia.

The Board found that the veteran's psychiatric disorder is not well grounded, as there is no evidence linking it to service.,The veteran's erectile dysfunction claim was found to be well grounded. The VA examiner opined that his current erectile dysfunction is multifactorial and related to spinal cord injury, mumps orchitis, schizophrenia, and medications for schizophrenia.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for a mental disorder as secondary to his service-connected residuals of head trauma is not well grounded. The claims for increased ratings for chondromalacia of the left and right knees were denied due to lack of evidence showing that the disabilities are related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia is well-grounded, but his claim for service connection for an eye disorder (claimed as allergic conjunctivitis) is not well-grounded.

The Board dismissed the motion for CUE regarding the April 1998 decision on attorney fee agreements due to lack of a clear and unmistakable error (CUE) claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA hospitalization records and adjudicating a recently submitted claim for pension.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking the condition to the appellant's period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA). The preponderance of the evidence indicated a long history of mental health issues prior to and after her military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim. The case is being remanded for further development.