Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2000

The veteran's service-connected schizophrenia causes considerable social and industrial impairment, but does not meet the criteria for an increased evaluation. His combined rating is 60 percent, which does not qualify him for a total disability rating based on unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current schizoaffective disorder is related to service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals found that the veteran's service in retrieving bodies from the Golden Gate Bridge did constitute a stressor, and thus PTSD was incurred in active service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims are well-grounded for chronic fatigue, memory loss, and a psychiatric disability. However, service connection is denied for gastrointestinal and respiratory disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has determined that the claim of service connection for psychiatric disability is not well grounded and therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, and a psychiatric disability are not well grounded. The claim for service connection for post-traumatic osteoarthritis is found to be well grounded.

The RO granted the veteran's claim of service connection for schizophrenia with an effective date set at April 25, 1997. The veteran previously filed a claim in February 1985 which was denied by the RO in May 1985 due to insufficient evidence and lack of response from the veteran.

The Board found that the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for schizophrenia was not well grounded, as there was no evidence showing that his pre-existing condition worsened during service or was related to military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the denial of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and entitlement to compensation benefits for accrued purposes as no notice of disagreement was filed regarding these issues.

The Board has restored the appellant's 100 percent rating for his service-connected schizophrenia, paranoid type, based on evidence showing that he remains totally disabled and that his condition does not warrant a lower evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and PTSD were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a psychosis present during service or within one year post-service. The veteran's stressors did not meet the criteria for being a life-threatening traumatic event.

The Board found that the veteran's appeal to the July 1992 rating decision was timely filed and determined that his claim for service connection for a neuropsychiatric disorder is well-grounded.

The Board found that the veteran's psychiatric disability did not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent, and thus denied his claim for a higher rating. The total unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was also denied as there were no significant changes in the veteran's level of functioning.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a nervous or psychiatric disorder, finding that new and material evidence has been received but not sufficient to establish service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's schizophrenia is related to his service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection.

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

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was not incurred in service and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, a bilateral ankle disorder, and a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of July 28, 1988 for the award of service connection for schizophrenia and denied an earlier effective date for residuals of enucleation of the right eye.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.