Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2000

The Board denied the application to reopen the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found no evidence of a current seizure disorder or psychiatric disability related to service, and thus denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The decision is based on a lack of evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder were not incurred in service, as there was no evidence linking these conditions to her period of active duty. The veteran did not provide credible supporting evidence for her claimed in-service stressors related to sexual assault.

The Board found that the veteran did not submit evidence to support his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and thus denied the claim.

The Board denied reopening the claims of service connection for schizophrenia and left arm injury due to lack of new and material evidence. The additional evidence was either duplicative or cumulative.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well-grounded and thus denied. The effective date claim is also denied as there was no prior application for pension benefits.

The Board found no evidence of an acquired psychiatric disorder in service or within one year after separation, and the veteran's current condition is not related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's psychiatric disability, including as secondary to a service-connected skin disorder, is not shown to have been incurred in or aggravated by service. The dermatitis of the hands and fungus infection of the feet are not rated higher than 30 percent. The claim for hepatitis C was considered well grounded but no rating assigned due to lack of evidence.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically paranoid schizophrenia. The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the current diagnosis to his military service.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected paranoid schizophrenia with PTSD was denied by the RO in July 1998. The VA examiner diagnosed chronic, moderate PTSD and assigned a GAF score of 50.

The Board finds the veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder is well grounded. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional medical records, conduct VA examinations, and consider both old and new rating criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia, finding that it was caused by his own willful misconduct (drug abuse). The decision concluded that the veteran's schizophrenia is not a compensable disability incurred or aggravated in line of duty.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for an increased disability evaluation for his chronic brain syndrome and service connection for schizo-affective disorder/schizophrenia secondary to his service-connected chronic brain syndrome. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection based on the current criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD and there is no evidence of an acquired psychiatric disorder incurred during service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board granted a 60% rating for the veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, effective from June 16, 1989. The attorney is entitled to 20% of past-due benefits related to this award.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected schizophrenic reaction with history of seizures and mental deterioration is being remanded due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia and labyrinthitis, but denied reopening of his claim for service connection for labyrinthitis due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent evaluation of his service-connected psychiatric disability was granted, with the effective date set at April 11, 1995.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and an increased evaluation, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable error in their decisions.