Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2002

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for schizophrenia, which was previously denied in 1998. The opinion from a VA physician suggests that the veteran's schizophrenia may have manifested during his second period of military service.

The Board found that schizophrenia, claimed as a mental disability, was not incurred in or aggravated by military service and could not be presumed to have been incurred during such service.

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and thus denied his claim.

The Board has granted a 70 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected schizophrenia, undifferentiated type, based on severe impairment in social and industrial adaptability. The criteria for a 100 percent schedular rating are not met.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a stomach and intestinal disorder, a psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), residuals of a jaw and neck injury, and a lung disorder, finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated during his period of active duty for training.

The VA determined that the appellant's chronic paranoid schizophrenia was incurred during his active service.

The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board denied reopening the veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, finding no new and material evidence. The Court affirmed this decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include schizophrenia, finding that there was no evidence of a psychiatric disorder in service or within one year after discharge. The Board also found that the veteran's current diagnosis of schizophrenia did not have its onset during her period of active military duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder, swollen legs, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The skin disorder was not found to be due to an undiagnosed illness or connectable to service. Swollen legs were determined to be directly related to service. The acquired psychiatric disorder was found to be secondary to service.

The veteran's request for a change in representation and his request for another hearing have been acknowledged. The case is being remanded to the RO for further action, including arranging for a Board hearing at the RO.

The Board has granted a TDIU rating effective January 16, 1981, for the veteran's service-connected paranoid schizophrenia.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury, including a psychiatric disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's psychiatric symptoms, including anxiety, nervousness, and fatigue, have been attributed to known diagnoses of bipolar disorder and major depression. There is no evidence that these conditions are related to service or undiagnosed illness.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The veteran's current diagnosis is major depressive disorder, which he believes was first manifested during service.

The Board has determined that a compensable evaluation for residuals of the right radius fracture is not warranted based on the evidence provided.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for PTSD, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for a skin disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence does not support these claims.

The Board has granted a rating of 70 percent for the service-connected schizophrenia, which is more than the current 50 percent assigned. The disability picture presented by the veteran's schizophrenia more nearly approximates the criteria for a 70 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's heart disorder is reasonably due to or the result of his service-connected psychiatric disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.