Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2000

The veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, COPD, neck injury residuals, lumbar strain, chronic non-specific dermatitis, and scars from cervical traction have been granted. The effective date for the COPD rating increase is April 30, 1998.

The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for schizophrenia, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board denied the appellant's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for chronic paranoid schizophrenia, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, and his abdominal scar with incisional hernia, status post Meckel's diverticulum, is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bipolar disorder, a condition he currently suffers from, began during his military service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board denied DIC benefits due to a lack of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, and did not consider the appellant's argument that the claim should have been evaluated under 38 U.S.C. § 1318(b).

The Board has found that the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD is well-grounded and granted this issue. The veteran was also provided with another VA examination to clarify his fibromyalgia, but further verification of stressors in service is needed.

The veteran's claims of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and hypoglycemia are denied as there is no competent medical evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's schizophrenia, undifferentiated type is productive of hallucinations and threats of self-harm, as well as some homicidal ideation. The Board has granted a 100 percent disability rating for this condition.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability. The RO must verify all periods of the appellant's ROTC training, including the period from June 14, 1974.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the veteran's death.

The veteran's schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder have been granted a 100% disability evaluation, effective March 7, 1999. Temporary total ratings for hospitalizations from November 9, 1995 to January 31, 1996; February 10, 1996 to February 15, 1996; and March 7, 1999 to May 25, 1999 have also been granted.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well-grounded, as there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and service or any inservice exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant, and financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile and adaptive equipment due to lack of evidence meeting the criteria for these benefits.

The VA denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and granted service connection for residuals of fracture of the nose with a 10% rating effective December 5, 1995. The veteran's request for a personal hearing before a member of the Board was addressed.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to rate the veteran's disability from his nonservice-connected mental disorder and to distinguish it from his history of alcohol abuse. The veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the nature and extent of his disability, as well as the cause of his malnutrition and wasting syndrome.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for psychiatric disability, finding that new and material evidence had not been received. The veteran argued his schizophrenia was related to service, but the newly submitted medical evidence did not provide a basis for reopening the previously disallowed claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder is well-grounded and grants this claim.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current conditions to his military service, thus denying both claims for service connection.