Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the new evidence submitted by the veteran establishes a basis for service connection for schizophrenia, which was first diagnosed during active duty. The claim is therefore granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for disability compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a skin disorder, sexual dysfunction, and a psychiatric disorder as they were not shown to be causally related to his VA care during his hospitalization in August 1977.

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder existed prior to service and was not aggravated during active duty, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chosen vocational goal of becoming a computer analyst is not reasonably feasible due to his service-connected schizophrenia and other disabilities, leading to a denial of further vocational rehabilitation and training.

The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected paranoid schizophrenia, effective from June 16, 1998. The veteran previously had a 10 percent rating.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's schizophrenia and psychotic disorder began during active service, and therefore grants service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of schizophrenia was denied as the appropriate effective date is November 21, 1989.

The Board has determined that there is equipoise of evidence regarding whether the veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his military service, leading to a finding in favor of granting service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia and head injury with seizure disorder, finding that there was no competent evidence to support these claims.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is not well-grounded and denied the appeal.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability is not well grounded. The increased disability rating for his gunshot wound to the right thigh is denied as there is no evidence showing an increase in severity since the initial evaluation.

The Board found no competent evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection of a psychiatric disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, or arthritis. The claim was denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and treatment records.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for schizophrenia, finding that the schedular criteria were not met. The decision is not considered clear and unmistakable error.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the Total Disability Rating based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) and did not address the issue of an earlier effective date for the rating issues. The veteran's attorney was paid a fee from past-due benefits, but this payment is being withheld as it does not meet the requirements due to the separate nature of the TDIU issue.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well-grounded and denied them. The appeals regarding increased ratings for bunion deformities of the right and left great toes were also considered, but no rating was assigned as the criteria for a compensable evaluation were not met.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and a skin disorder are not well grounded. The claim for a psychiatric disorder is denied as there is no medical evidence linking any current psychiatric condition to military service.

The veteran's service-connected schizophrenia is currently manifested by symptoms including anxiety, depression, auditory and visual hallucinations, some suspiciousness, ideas of reference, and problems with concentration. The Board finds that these symptoms result in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent disability rating.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, concluding that the appellant's statements were not sufficient to establish a nexus between his current psychiatric disorder and service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's schizophrenia, schizoid-affective type, with PTSD warrants a 70 percent evaluation effective June 23, 1998.