Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2001

The veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred during his involuntary hospitalization at Western State Hospital for a service-connected psychiatric disorder are covered by VA.

The Board has granted service connection for psychiatric and gastrointestinal disorders secondary to the veteran's service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding an increased evaluation for bronchial asthma as no substantive appeal was filed. The Board granted restoration of a 100 percent schedular evaluation for schizophrenia, effective from March 1, 1984.

The Board found that the November 1978 administrative determination and February 1981 rating decision were not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, but noted factual errors in the latter. The veteran's claims for service connection for ulcerative colitis and psychiatric disability (nervous condition) remain denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a cold injury (frostbite), hypertension, a heart disability, hearing loss, tinnitus, a psychiatric disability including PTSD and a circulatory disability. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during military service.

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 last denial.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disorder, increased ratings for his service-connected left hip and leg conditions, Paragraph 30 benefits, and reopening of a previously denied claim. The case has been remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the veteran for examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), finding that there was no medical evidence linking any current psychiatric disorder to service or a specific in-service stressor.

The Board denied the veteran's attempt to reopen his claim for service connection for psychiatric disability other than PTSD, finding no new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability. The appellant's contentions, along with a recent statement from Dr. Reno, are considered in deciding this matter.

The VA Regional Office denied the veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death for burial benefits due to alcoholism, which was considered a result of willful misconduct. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The veteran's schizophrenia has been manifested by anxiety, panic, paranoid ideas, impaired concentration, auditory hallucinations, depression, difficulty sleeping, isolation from others, and the inability to obtain or retain employment. The claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability is moot.

The Board has found new and material evidence to have been submitted, but denied the claim for service connection on the merits.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his schizophrenia, currently rated at 10 percent. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either the pre- or post-amendment version of the regulations.

The Board has determined that the case requires additional development due to incomplete medical records and a need for a VA psychiatric examination. The issue of service connection is also intertwined with the issue of simple phobia.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that his preexisting condition clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service and was not aggravated by military service.

The Board determined that the additional evidence submitted since January 1997 was not new and material, and thus did not warrant reopening the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that it is not related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury, residuals of a back injury, hearing loss and a psychiatric disability were denied as not well grounded.