Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2001

The veteran is found incompetent for VA purposes due to his mental condition, which includes schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

The veteran's appeal is for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. Additional development is needed including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying the stressor event related by the veteran.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including kidney disorder, foot disability, menstrual disorder, left ear hearing loss, psychiatric disability, hypertension, eye disability, hemorrhoids, and sinus disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active military service.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate is being remanded due to incomplete development of his medical records, including those from a VA psychiatrist. The RO must ensure all notification and development actions required by the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 are completed.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, a tender abdominal scar, and an increased evaluation for the service-connected gastrointestinal disorder. The veteran's ventral hernia and hemorrhoids are not found to be related to his service-connected gastrointestinal disorder.

The veteran's schizophrenia, rated as 100% disabling since May 31, 1993, does not restrict him to his dwelling or immediate premises. Therefore, he is not entitled to special monthly compensation based on being housebound.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD. The Board found that these conditions did not begin during or as a result of his military service.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for nonservice-connected pension benefits is denied as the evidence does not establish that his psychiatric disability rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 10, 1992.

The Board has determined that the evidence submitted by the veteran is not new and material to reopen his claim for service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disease. The evidence does not establish a nexus between the veteran's current condition and his period of active service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and ensure compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board found that the September 1986 rating decision denying service connection for hepatitis did not contain clear and unmistakable error, as there was no evidence of a current disability at that time.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for vocational rehabilitation training under Chapter 31, Title 38, USC because his service-connected disabilities did not result in an employment handicap.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an effective date prior to September 24, 1998 for a 100 percent rating for his service-connected psychiatric disorder and denied service connection for rheumatoid anklyosing spondylitis (also claimed as a neck disorder).

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected paranoid schizophrenia warrants a 100% evaluation, reflecting severe impairment in social and industrial adaptability.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim and found that new evidence supports a reopening of his service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder. However, the Board denied the claim as there is no evidence showing the condition was incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing schizophrenia did not worsen during service and thus severed her service connection for a psychiatric disorder. The motion asserts clear and unmistakable error in this decision.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claimed conditions are not service-connected due to lack of evidence supporting a link between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims of service connection for his right leg fractures, bilateral pes planus, low back disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The preexisting conditions were not aggravated by service, and there was insufficient medical evidence linking these conditions to his period of active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes, finding that his conditions did not warrant such a rating based on the evidence of record at the time.