Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection and a total rating for paranoid schizophrenia, finding that no valid claim of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) was presented.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and defective hearing. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to active military service, or to continued symptoms since service.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have a current psychiatric disability or illness, and therefore denies his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board found no evidence of a psychiatric disorder in service and concluded that the current psychiatric condition is not related to service, thus denying the claim.

The Board has determined that the claim is well-grounded and has been granted.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the veteran's evaluation for his psychiatric disorder from 70 percent to 30 percent was proper based on sustained improvement in his condition.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran did not submit new and material evidence to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, as any additional evidence submitted was cumulative or did not establish a causal relationship between his current condition and his period of service.

The Board found that the February 1947 rating decision which severed service connection for a psychiatric disorder was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability is also denied as new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen it.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is well-grounded and has been granted. Service connection for mechanical low back syndrome is also granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder is not related to his service, including an inservice anxiety reaction.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for multiple sclerosis and a psychiatric disability, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional evidence received after the initial decision, including VA mental health records and a VA examination report. The appellant's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder will be reconsidered with this new information.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a back disorder, and a respiratory disorder (emphysema) are not well-grounded as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his period of active duty.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder. The claim is well-grounded, as there is medical evidence of a current disability and a nexus between the in-service incident and the current condition.

The Board found that the veteran's undifferentiated type schizophrenia warranted a 50 percent evaluation, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition. The claim for total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was also denied as there were no exceptional circumstances shown by the evidence indicating that the veteran’s service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board decision from which he appealed is also vacated.

The Board has remanded the case due to actions taken by the appellant regarding his military discharge, including filing a claim with the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR). The appeal is pending while this matter is resolved.

The Board is remanding the case due to procedural issues, including a need to address whether there was clear and unmistakable error in prior rating decisions denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim of reopening the claim will be considered after this issue is resolved.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings of his left and right leg disabilities were denied, but he was granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder (schizophrenia).

The Board agrees that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and thus the claim is well grounded. The issue will be remanded for further development.