Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for schizophrenia, concluding that new and material evidence had not been submitted. The decision was based on the evidence of record showing no diagnosis of schizophrenia during or within one year after service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder due to new and material evidence being submitted. However, the claim remains well grounded as it is not supported by cognizable evidence showing that the claim is plausible or capable of substantiation.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, and finds that his claim is well grounded based on the submitted medical opinions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing at the RO.

The Board found that the veteran's schizophrenia preexisted service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was first diagnosed in service and has continued after service. The Board granted the claim, finding that the veteran developed a psychosis in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia is well grounded. However, the claims for service connection for back, left hand and eye disabilities are not well grounded and are denied.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a low back disorder, and jungle rot, as well as an increased rating for postoperative residuals of a tear of the left lateral meniscus and partial tear of the left quadriceps muscle. The decision also reopened one or more claims on the basis of new evidence.

The Board has determined that the appellant has not submitted new and material evidence to reopen his claims for service connection for a back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Board granted an increased disability rating for the veteran's cervical, thoracic, and lumbosacral muscular pain. The attorney fees from past-due benefits are eligible based on this decision.

The Board denied service connection for low back and psychiatric disorders as secondary to the service-connected gunshot wound of the right foot.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a grant of service connection for PTSD, finding that the effective date cannot be earlier than December 29, 1989, as this is when the Phoenix RO received the veteran's original claim for service connection.

The Board found that the evidence did not provide a nexus between the veteran's current psychiatric disorder and service, thus denying the claim for service connection. The increased rating claim for rheumatoid arthritis was also denied as there was no significant evidence of active rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder, specifically schizophrenia. The Board also found that it is likely as not that the current diagnosis of schizophrenia in 1971 was an outgrowth or maturation of symptoms from 1971.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to the need for a Statement of the Case on issues related to service connection on an Agent Orange basis.

The Board denied the appellant's claim to reopen his service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder. The reduction from a 60 percent evaluation to a 30 percent evaluation for mitral valve prolapse with status post-operative cardiac pacemaker insertion was not proper.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for schizophrenia. The issue of an increased evaluation for a scar of the forehead remains denied.

The veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for his service-connected schizophrenic reaction prior to October 3, 1997 was denied. The current rating criteria were applied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim.