Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2000

The Board finds that the veteran's current psychiatric diagnoses have not been shown to be related to active service and there is no verified in-service stressor. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is denied.

The veteran's request for an effective date earlier than December 14, 1988 for a total rating for compensation purposes based upon individual unemployability was denied.,The claim for an earlier effective date for the award of Dependents' Educational Assistance under Chapter 35, United States Code was also denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for back disability and psychiatric disability. The appellant now has a current diagnosis of these conditions, which were related by medical professionals to injuries sustained during his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, PTSD, and tinnitus. The claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder (claimed as dysthymia and PTSD) was considered on a de novo basis. Service connection for chronic low back pain was granted with a 10% evaluation. The veteran's left inguinal hernia and eye disorder claims were denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found that the schizophrenia preexisted service and denied entitlement to service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and found that new evidence supports this claim. However, the Board also determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the current psychiatric disability to his period of active military service.

The Board found that the appellant did not establish veteran status for his claims of service connection for a back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, as there was no competent medical evidence showing treatment or diagnosis of these conditions during his qualifying period of active duty for training (ADT).

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including paranoid schizophrenia. However, the claim remains not well grounded as there is no competent medical evidence to establish a nexus between the current condition and service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for an increased rating for schizophrenia and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability, finding that the appellant failed to report for scheduled VA psychiatric examinations without good cause.

The VA has granted a 30 percent disability rating for the veteran's PTSD, which is currently evaluated as 30 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic cardiovascular disability, including coronary artery disease and hypertension, is not well-grounded. The February 1992 rating decision denying service connection for paranoid-type schizophrenia is final as no new and material evidence was submitted to reopen this claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no direct or secondary relationship to his military service.

The Board finds that there is not a reasonable possibility of valid claims concerning whether the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, chronic low back disability, and hypertension were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and did not reopen the claim of service connection for PTSD. The decision on secondary service connection was remanded.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is not well grounded due to lack of competent medical evidence linking her current psychiatric disorders to her active service.

The veteran's service-connected paranoid schizophrenia is rated at 50 percent, and his temporary total disability rating for hospitalization due to substance abuse is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a psychiatric disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, left side injury, vision problems, throat problem, low back disorder, and flat feet. The evidence submitted did not meet the criteria to reopen these claims.

The veteran's claim for disability benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied because the additional psychiatric disability did not result from VA treatment, and there was no evidence of fault on the part of VA.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected paranoid schizophrenia, finding that the current disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 50 percent.

The Board found no evidence of a well-grounded claim for service connection for any psychiatric disorders, headaches, tinnitus, neck and back disabilities, or muscle spasms.