Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2001

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder due to new and material evidence submitted since the February 1990 rating decision. The Board finds that the veteran's schizophrenia likely began during his military service, making it potentially service-connected.

The veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted, as new evidence has been submitted that was not considered in the previous denial. The effective date will be determined based on when the new evidence was received.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for ankylosing spondylitis and a neuropsychiatric disorder secondary to her service-connected low back syndrome, as well as her request for an increased evaluation for her low back disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to a significant change in the law and the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and expanding the search for relevant records.

The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for the veteran's schizophrenia, effective June 25, 1999.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new and material evidence. The condition is found to have been aggravated by her military service.

The veteran's service-connected neuropsychiatric disability, including post concussion syndrome, chronic brain syndrome associated with trauma to the brain, panic disorder, schizophrenia, headaches, dizziness, and PTSD, is now rated at 100 percent effective from September 21, 1989.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well grounded and remanded the case to allow for further development and readjudication.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current psychiatric disorder, and thus service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected left hand disorder, neuropsychiatric disorder (conversion reaction), and residuals of his head injury (chronic brain syndrome).

The veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred during his hospitalization at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center was granted as VA facilities were not feasibly available and an attempt to use them beforehand would not have been reasonable, sound, wise, or practicable considering the nature of the veteran's medical emergency.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and procedures from the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA). The veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder is pending, but additional development is required.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia, finding that it is at least as likely as not that the condition began during active service or was aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claims for chronic sinusitis and a chronic acquired psychiatric disability have been denied due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to the veteran's service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound of the back.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia. Further development is needed before a decision can be made on whether service connection should be granted.

The Board's decision to terminate the veteran's total compensation rating based on individual unemployability was found to be in error due to a failure to apply the correct regulatory standard of actual employability. The decision is now reversed and the rating is restored.

The appellant contends that he has an acquired psychiatric disorder that had its origins in service and has submitted new and material evidence to reopen his previously denied claim. The Board is remanding the case for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has granted the veteran's application to reopen their claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, based on new and material evidence submitted.

The Board is required to review whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder. The RO should ensure that all notification and development action required by the VCAA are completed, including notifying the veteran of his rights under the VCAA.