Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2000

The veteran's appeal was denied on all issues, including increased ratings for a neuropsychiatric disorder and service connection claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted. The additional evidence provided since May 1988 did not show that the veteran's schizophrenia was incurred in or aggravated during his periods of active service.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, which was previously denied in December 1990.

The veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability precludes him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied service connection for low back pain and an acquired psychiatric disorder (panic disorder with agoraphobia), finding that the veteran's pre-existing conditions did not worsen during military service.

The veteran's service-connected schizophrenia, paranoid type, results in total social and occupational impairment with symptoms including flattened affect, impaired judgment, disturbances of motivation and mood, difficulty in establishing effective relationships, and near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently. The VA has determined that a 100 percent rating is warranted for this condition.

The veteran's appeal for a total rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is dismissed because the claim was moot after another decision granted a higher evaluation for their psychiatric disability.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder and remanded it for further development, including a VA examination. The veteran's hypertension claim is also being considered.

The Board has remanded the case due to a procedural issue regarding whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for schizophrenia, paranoid type.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly evaluate the veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected paranoid schizophrenia.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder in 1976. The veteran's claim was reopened, but new evidence did not establish a relationship between his current psychiatric condition and service.

The veteran's schizophrenia with depression was manifested by anxiety, depression, panic, paranoid ideas, limited concentration and memory, auditory hallucinations, delusions, depression, difficulty sleeping, suicidal thoughts, and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores ranging from 31 to 55. The Board found that the criteria for a total schedular evaluation for schizophrenia with depression have been met.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of his claims.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and a VA psychiatric examination.

The veteran's paranoid schizophrenia, which was previously rated at 70 percent, is now rated at 100 percent effective from January 16, 1999. The rating agency found that the veteran's condition warranted a 100 percent disability rating due to his significant impairment in social and industrial adaptability.

The Board found that the additional evidence submitted since the December 1994 rating decision is not new and material, as it does not show a current nervous condition (schizophrenia) related to service or having an onset during service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's combat experiences are sufficient to support a diagnosis of PTSD and have remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) has reviewed the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The BVA found that there was no verified in-service stressor and that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy. As such, the BVA denied the veteran's claim as it pertains to service connection.

The Board has granted the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder. The new evidence submitted supports a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder including sinusitis and tonsillitis, as well as her claim for an increased rating for bilateral residuals of resection arthroplasty of the proximal inter phalangeal joints of the fourth and fifth toes. The veteran was granted a 20% disability rating for each foot.