Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2001

The Board denied an effective date prior to March 5, 1999 for the assignment of a total evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability. The veteran's claim was not granted before March 5, 1999.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder did not originate in service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied reopening the veteran's claim for service connection of a head disorder, including personality disorder, paranoid schizophrenia, headaches, residuals of head injury, and/or seizure disorder. The new evidence submitted since September 1998 is not considered material to reopen the claim.

The veteran's memory loss, fatigue, sleep impairment, inability to get along with others, and a psychiatric disorder are not service-connected as they are attributed to diagnosed conditions that did not arise during or due to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding no new and material evidence. The decision is final.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are denied as there is no current medical evidence of these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of October 17, 1994 for a 100% rating for his service-connected psychiatric disorder. The decision is based on the finality of the previous rating action and the lack of clear and unmistakable error.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining mental health treatment records and conducting a psychiatric examination to determine the correct diagnoses.

The veteran's service-connected schizophrenia was rated at 50 percent prior to April 16, 2000. After a September 2000 rating decision, the veteran received a 100 percent evaluation effective from April 16, 2000.

The Board has reopened the claim and found that a preponderance of evidence supports service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type. The veteran's first psychotic episode occurred during his active duty.

The July 1972 rating decision denied the veteran's claim for service connection due to a psychiatric disability. The Board found that there was no clear and unmistakable error in this decision.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and ensuring compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and also denied his request for an increased evaluation for his psychiatric disorder. The evidence submitted since the November 1974 rating decision did not provide new and material evidence to support reopening of the service connection claim.

The veteran's schizophrenia was not incurred during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence linking the condition to service. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the February 1958 decision upholding severance of service connection for a psychiatric disorder was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, and the June 1985 decision determining there was no new factual basis warranting service connection for a psychiatric disorder failed to meet the threshold pleading requirements for revision on grounds of CUE.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim and found that his acquired psychiatric disorder had its inception in active service, granting him service connection.

The Board has determined that service connection is granted for the veteran's dysthymia, irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic skin disorder (other than involving the feet), with these conditions presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, secondary to service-connected prostatitis. The veteran's preoccupation with impotence due to his service-connected prostatitis is considered significant in causing anxiety and depression.

The Board has ordered the RO to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations to determine if the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his service. The appeal will be remanded for these actions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA). The issue is whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.