Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2002

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left knee disability and psychiatric disability were denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for paranoid schizophrenia was granted, with a current effective date of December 21, 1993. The RO determined that the veteran's condition warranted a 50 percent disability rating prior to March 28, 2000 and a 100 percent disability rating from that date onward.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, present in service or related to active duty. The veteran's sleep apnea is also not shown to be causally related to service. Service connection for disabilities of the joints other than the back, liver disability, skin disability, and stomach disability are denied as well. The veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disability was also denied.

The veteran's schizophrenia, rated at 100 percent disabling since December 1961, is the sole condition considered. The veteran has been declared legally incompetent and resides in an adult foster care home where he receives regular personal assistance. As a result, he meets the criteria for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

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 veteran's paranoid schizophrenia has been rated at 50 percent since November 1996, and the Board has now granted a 70 percent rating based on severe impairment in his ability to work.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD with paranoid schizophrenia was denied as the earliest date that service connection could be granted is February 18, 1992.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, an increased disability rating for residuals of lacerations to the nose, lips, and chin, and an increased disability rating for residuals of a pelvis and right hip fracture with internal fixation.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, a pulmonary disorder, and a gastrointestinal disability (irritable colon syndrome).

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for schizophrenia. The veteran's testimony regarding a secondary relationship between his schizophrenia and his service-connected low back disorder is considered cumulative.

The Board found no evidence of a current psychiatric disorder related to service, and denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disability and a low back disorder, finding that the veteran's conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a digestive disorder, and tinnitus. The issues were framed as such by the Board.

The Board found that the veteran's preexisting psychiatric disorder did not worsen during service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a neuropsychiatric disorder. The evidence indicates that his current disability from a neuropsychiatric disorder is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Board denied service connection for an undiagnosed illness manifested by muscle and joint pain, fatigue, and irritable bowel symptoms due to lack of evidence linking the disability to service. Service connection was granted for generalized anxiety disorder incurred in service. The Board also denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for the undiagnosed illness.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which was previously denied in a May 1995 decision. The appellant now contends that his current diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia is related to his period of military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating evaluation for his service-connected schizophrenia was denied due to his failure to report for scheduled VA psychiatric examinations.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability. The issue of whether service connection should be granted will be addressed in a separate decision.