Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2001

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, citing lack of evidence to support his claim.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder and drug dependence, concluding that the conditions were due to a preexisting personality disorder.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a cerebral aneurysm and a functional psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder and found that an effective date earlier than June 27, 1997, for the grant of pension benefits is not warranted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including back injury, tinnitus, sinusitis, skin disease, head injury, and psychiatric disability. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia effective March 26, 1985 based on a finding of clear and unmistakable error in an earlier rating decision. The veteran's claim was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that a remand is required to obtain additional medical evidence and determine if the veteran's service-connected schizophrenia warrants an increased rating or entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has determined that the veteran is not competent to handle his VA benefit payments due to mental incapacity.

The Board found that the veteran's cervical spine and psychiatric disorders are not at least as likely as not related to his period of active service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for schizophrenia, and as such, the claim is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection on both direct and secondary bases. The veteran's psychiatric disability was present after service, but the additional evidence did not provide a basis to conclude it was related to his back pain.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected lumbar spine traumatic arthritis with possible disc disease warrants a rating of 10 percent, and his claim for an increased rating is granted.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for paranoid schizophrenia due to new and material evidence. The Board also found that the veteran's current psychiatric disorder likely did not pre-exist military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and his request for Special Monthly Pension (SMP). The evidence submitted since the last final denial did not provide a medical diagnosis of any acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for psychiatric disability, and it is granted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination. The case will be reconsidered after these are obtained.

The veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board found that the veteran did not submit a timely Substantive Appeal regarding the RO's December 1997 determination, and thus the decision became final. The claim of entitlement to service connection for schizophrenia was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.