Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2001

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The veteran's sister, who paid expenses for his last illness and burial, is not entitled to reimbursement of more than $610.73 from accrued benefits.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development, including obtaining financial information from the appellant and addressing her contentions. The case will be returned to the Board after this development.

The Board has not determined whether the new evidence is related to service, but it does not provide a link between the appellant's psychiatric disability and his military service. Therefore, the claim of service connection for psychiatric disability remains denied.

The Board reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for schizophrenia based on new and material evidence provided by his attorney.,The Board denied reopening the veteran's claim of service connection for a back disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found that the veteran does not suffer from an acquired psychiatric disorder and is therefore not entitled to service connection for one.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations, as well as compliance with new provisions of the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disability, lung disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current skin disability.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder secondary to his service-connected gunshot wound to the right shoulder.

The veteran's total disability due to his service-connected schizophrenia, chronic undifferentiated type, was not found to be permanent in nature, thus denying basic eligibility for dependents' educational assistance under Chapter 35.

The Board has restored the veteran's 100 percent disability rating for schizophrenia, paranoid type effective from February 1, 1987.

The veteran's only service-connected disability is schizophrenia, paranoid type. This does not meet the criteria for an automobile allowance and/or adaptive equipment due to lack of qualifying conditions.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for a 100 percent evaluation for schizophrenia, and also challenges the January 24, 1978 decision that denied an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for paranoid schizophrenia.

The veteran's nonservice-connected mental health conditions do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes due to his inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's service with the New Philippine Scouts is not considered active military service for purposes of VA burial benefits, as it does not qualify under the applicable regulations. The veteran was in receipt of service-connected disability compensation for schizophrenia.

The veteran's death was caused by asphyxia due to carbon monoxide inhalation, which the Board finds related to his service-connected paranoid schizophrenia. The veteran also had a history of alcohol abuse that contributed to his condition and may have exacerbated his symptoms. As such, the cause of death is now considered service-connected. Additionally, the veteran's need for aid and attendance was established at the time of his death.

The Board's decision denied an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for paranoid schizophrenia. The appellant argues that the Board failed to consider a regulation allowing for a 100% (convalescent) rating for six months following discharge from VA hospitalization, which would have granted a higher rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection for joint pain, fatigue, nausea, and muscle pain due to undiagnosed illnesses are denied as they have been attributed to known diagnoses or other causes.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right ankle disorder that was incurred or aggravated by service. The RO must attempt to locate and obtain additional service personnel records which may substantiate the veteran's claimed in-service disciplinary action related to substance abuse, as well as arrange for VA examinations of the veteran's mental status and his knees.

The VA has denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for his schizophrenia, finding that the manifestations do not exceed occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.