Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2002

The Board has granted a 100 percent schedular rating for the veteran's service-connected schizophrenia, resulting in total social and industrial impairment.

The veteran's schizophrenia, undifferentiated type, was manifested by definite social and occupational impairment prior to March 2, 1999. The Board found that a 30 percent rating is warranted for this period.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia, finding no evidence to support a link between his post-service diagnosis and his period of active service.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation to 50 percent for the veteran's service-connected schizophrenic reaction, unclassified, effective July 2001.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 30, 1996 for a total rating of 100 percent for schizophrenia.

The veteran's schizophrenia, paranoid type, is currently evaluated at 30 percent and his claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased disability evaluation or a finding of unemployability solely due to service-connected schizophrenia.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current psychiatric disorder to his active service, including mustard gas exposure. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a request for a videoconference hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and determining whether new evidence supports reopening a claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The veteran's increased rating claim for headaches and his total disability rating claim due to unemployability are also being addressed.

The Board found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection for a psychosis, as his disorder was not incurred within two years of discharge from active duty. The claim for reopening the previously denied psychiatric disorder claim is also denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The veteran's testimony and medical records support his claims.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability due to new and material evidence provided in September 2002.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have organic brain syndrome or an acquired psychiatric disorder related to his active service.

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), was not supported by evidence sufficient to reopen his case and grant benefits. The Board concluded that there is no credible evidence linking the current psychiatric disability to events in service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and schizophrenia, but denied reopening of the claim for service connection for schizophrenia.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee instability, and muscle group I wound. The conditions are not shown to warrant higher disability evaluations.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia, finding that the veteran had a pre-existing condition in service and is entitled to the presumption of soundness.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a 100 percent schedular evaluation for schizophrenia, finding that the claim was received in November 1978 and the entitlement arose after January 1978.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and degenerative disc disease. Service connection was not granted for hypertension due to lack of evidence.