Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2000

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the appellant's active duty for training and his current psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and adjustment disorder. Therefore, service connection was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that his claim was not well-grounded.

The Board found that the veteran's psychiatric, right shoulder, and back disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence did not support a finding of chronicity in service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disability (claimed as depression), increased rating for hemorrhoids, and increased rating for hepatitis have been denied. The veteran is currently rated at 10 percent for hepatitis from October 11, 1997 onwards.

The Board has determined that a rating of 30 percent is warranted for the veteran's service-connected schizophrenia from November 16, 1988 to February 17, 1994. A rating of 100 percent is granted effective February 18, 1994.

The veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia was reopened and granted with a 100% disability rating effective March 27, 1991.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depression) and functional bowel syndrome, as well as his claim for a higher rating for residuals of right wrist ganglionectomy. The appeals were based on direct service connection without any presumption or secondary theory.

The Board found that the veteran's schizophrenia, chronic undifferentiated type, did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for the service-connected psychiatric disability, including paranoid schizophrenia with post-traumatic stress disorder, prior to July 10, 1998. The effective date earlier than July 10, 1998 for a rating in excess of 70 percent was also denied.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for schizophrenic reaction, paranoid type.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic psychiatric disability was incurred during active service, resolving doubt in favor of the veteran.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current psychiatric disorder was incurred in service, granting his claim for service connection.

The veteran's death was due to atherosclerotic bowel disease, which is not service-connected. The claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran incurred dyssomnia during active military service and his claim of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a right hand injury is plausible. However, there is no competent medical evidence of a nexus between the veteran's alleged acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) and his period of active duty service.

The veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability is rated at 100 percent, and his hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent. The veteran is unable to work due to his psychiatric condition.

The Board has determined that the cause of the veteran's death, internal hemorrhage, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and found it plausible, but not well-grounded. The claim for a disability of the right hand is also considered plausible but not well-grounded. Service connection was denied for both conditions due to lack of clear evidence. For the total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability, the veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, concluding that there was no evidence linking his service-connected psychiatric disability to his cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the veteran's failure to report for VA examinations constituted good cause and thus upheld the reduction of his schizophrenia rating from 100% to 50%. The RO subsequently increased it to 70%, but the veteran appealed this decision, requesting restoration of a 100% rating. However, the evidence did not support a 100% rating as he still exhibited significant social and occupational impairment.