Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2002

The veteran's claimed conditions, including degenerative joint disease of the knees and right shoulder, gastroesophageal reflux, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, were not shown to be related to active or reserve service. The Board denied these claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for depression and schizophrenia, finding that there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia, finding that the veteran's condition may be presumed to have been incurred in service due to early manifestations of the disorder within one year after his separation from active military service.

The veteran's appeal for restoration of a 100 percent evaluation for his schizophrenic disorder was denied. The Board found that he did not meet the criteria to be considered as part of the Giusti-Bravo class and thus, is not entitled to review under the settlement in Giusti-Bravo v. United States Veterans Administration. Additionally, the appeal regarding restoration of the 100 percent evaluation was dismissed.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a shoulder disability and a psychiatric disorder, finding no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's schizophrenia had its onset during active service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a fracture of the right hand and a mental disorder, finding no current disability involving these conditions.

The veteran's schizophrenia, which manifests as mood swings and a tendency to hear voices, is currently evaluated at 70 percent. The Board finds that the current evaluation adequately reflects his disability picture.

The Board has reopened the veteran's previously denied claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder due to new and material evidence submitted, including an opinion from a private nurse linking the veteran's current psychiatric disability to his head injury during service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia, which was previously denied in February 1982 and May 1989. The reopening of this claim is granted.

The Board is considering two issues: whether to increase the rating for schizophrenia, paranoid type from 30 percent prior to June 11, 2000 and from 70 percent starting on that date. The veteran's claim involves a complex interplay of service connection and secondary service connection.

The Board's May 1981 decision denying an increased rating for chronic undifferentiated schizophrenia is being revised due to a failure to apply the correct regulations, resulting in a manifestly different outcome.

The VA denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that there was no evidence of head trauma in service and insufficient medical evidence to link his current psychiatric condition to service.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date of March 29, 1982, for the grant of service connection for schizophrenia. The veteran had previously filed a claim for pension benefits in December 1974, which was considered to be a claim for compensation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected schizophrenia caused his death, warranting DIC benefits and service connection for cause of death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding no evidence of a current diagnosis or link to service.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder. The previous denial was based on the belief that the condition existed prior to service, but recent medical opinions suggest it may have developed during active service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, which will now be addressed further by the Board.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's psychiatric disorder was incurred during his period of active duty for training in December 1994, and is related to this service.