Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2001

The Board has restored the appellant's 100 percent schedular rating for schizophrenia, effective from April 1, 1998.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disorder. The VA has not provided adequate development of the evidence, including scheduling him for a VA examination and obtaining his medical records.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for paranoid schizophrenia, which was previously denied in July 1974. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for schizophrenia. The veteran's application is now considered on its merits.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for schizophrenia is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a detailed opinion from a VA psychiatrist.

The veteran's claim for a TDIU rating was denied as the effective date cannot be earlier than September 29, 1999 due to the lack of evidence showing unemployability within one year prior to the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's respiratory disorder, including rhinosinusitis and residuals of a septoplasty, was incurred in or aggravated by service. The psychiatric disorder is also considered to have had its onset during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's schizophrenia, manifested by auditory hallucinations and other persistent thought disturbances, warrants a 100 percent disability rating due to its severe impairment of social and industrial adaptability.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for schizophrenia and PTSD, finding new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for schizophrenia but not for PTSD, stomach disability, back disability, asthma, or hypertension.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for scheduling a hearing before a Member of the Board and further development. The appellant's claim will be considered based on whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen his service connection claim for schizophrenia.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that these conditions are related to his active duty service. The effective dates of these grants have not been determined.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (chronic depressive disorder) and a back disorder, but denied service connection for the veteran's anxiety reaction and organic mood disorder with psychotic features. The right leg shell fragment wound residuals are currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied. The RO found no current evidence of the claimed disabilities.

The Board denied a request for an effective date prior to June 20, 2001, for the grant of a 100 percent rating for service-connected paranoid schizophrenia.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and ensuring compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000. The claims will be readjudicated based on all applicable laws and regulations.

The Board denied the claim for basic eligibility for VA compensation benefits because the appellant did not have qualifying service to establish veteran status.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is not service-connected as it was caused by his substance abuse, and thus VA compensation benefits are not payable.

The veteran's service-connected paranoid schizophrenia with PTSD is rated at 100 percent disabling as of March 26, 1991. The temporary total disability rating under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 4.29 based on a period of hospitalization in June and July 1993 remains granted.

The veteran's service-connected cervical and lumbar myositis are rated at 20% each, but his other conditions do not warrant additional disability ratings. The Board denied pension benefits as the veteran is not unemployable due to these disabilities.