Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2000

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and determined that it is well grounded. The case will be evaluated on its merits.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including dysthymia, is denied as there is no medical evidence linking the current condition to his period of active service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for an ear disorder. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, left ankle disorder, left shoulder disorder, and a psychiatric disorder (claimed as schizophrenia) are not well grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disability as secondary to his service-connected disabilities is not well-grounded. The claims for increased ratings and evaluations for the right knee and low back disability are remanded due to insufficient medical evidence addressing functional limitations.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound was denied due to his current disability rating of 100% for schizophrenia, which does not meet the criteria for additional disabilities independently ratable at 60%, nor is he substantially confined to his home.

The Board denied the reopening of claims for service connection due to insufficient new and material evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well-grounded and denied them.

The veteran's claim for waiver of recovery of an overpayment of improved disability pension benefits was denied because the Board found that there was a considerable degree of fault on the part of the veteran in creating the overpayment by failing to report his Civil Service annuity. Recovery would not be against the principle of equity and good conscience.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder was denied as there is no competent evidence to support the claim.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is not well-grounded. The appeal was also denied regarding his nonservice-connected pension benefits due to a lack of evidence showing he meets the criteria for permanent and total disability.

The veteran's schizophrenia, residual type with paranoid features, was granted a 100% initial disability evaluation effective prior to November 7, 1996.

The Board found that the appellant's claims of entitlement to service connection for concussion residuals and a psychiatric disability are well grounded. The VA examiner concluded that both conditions are related to the appellant's military service, specifically his assault in 1979.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder is related to his military service, making it well-grounded for service connection.

The Board granted service connection for schizophrenia and assigned a 70% disability rating, effective September 9, 1991. The veteran was awarded past-due benefits totaling $95,034.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as there is no competent medical evidence of record relating a current psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, to service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including post-traumatic stress disorder and a gastrointestinal disability due to exposure to Agent Orange during service are not well grounded. Therefore, the claims must be denied.

The veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right eye disability, and back disability are all considered well-grounded. However, the evidence does not establish a direct link between these conditions and service. The claim for right eye disability is reopened due to new medical evidence linking it to an inservice injury. For the back disability, there is conflicting evidence regarding its relation to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric and seizure disorders on a secondary basis are well grounded. The appeal is granted in part.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for reopening his service connection claims and denied his claim for compensation purposes due to wisdom teeth extractions as not well-grounded.

The Board has granted a 100 percent evaluation for undifferentiated schizophrenia from October 10, 2000, due to total occupational and social impairment.