Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2002

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension, which was first noted during service and likely contributed to his death from acute myocardial infarction, is service-connected. The cause of death due to acute myocardial infarction, severe coronary artery disease, and congestive heart failure is also considered service-connected.

The veteran's unauthorized private hospital care from May 5 to May 26, 2000 was reimbursed due to it being an emergent medical situation and the VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for schizophrenia and depression, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted since the last final denial in June 1997.

The Board has determined that the veteran's schizophrenia began in service and is not related to any pre-existing condition. Therefore, service connection for schizophrenia is granted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including essential hypertension, fatigue, night sweats, a psychiatric disability, a sleep disability, and an eczematoid rash on the hands. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and residuals of a testicular injury, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder. The evidence includes VA hospitalization reports dated from June 1983 to December 1993, which show treatment for alcohol dependence and bipolar disorder.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for psychiatric disability.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed as a depressive disorder or as schizophrenic symptomatology, and claimed as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board found that the veteran's psychiatric disorder preexisted service and was not aggravated by active military service, leading to a denial of his claim for service connection.

The veteran is deemed competent for VA purposes, with a 100% rating assigned for nonservice-connected schizophrenia. The decision does not address service connection claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of CUE in a July 1980 rating decision that denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable error.

The Board granted a 50% disability rating for undifferentiated schizophrenia and denied the claim for TDIU due to the veteran's schedular evaluation being at least 100 percent from May 1, 1999.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that a chronic acquired psychiatric disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The veteran's claim for TDIU is granted, with an effective date of June 3, 1991. This decision is based on the expanded grant of service connection to include a secondary psychiatric disability (dysthymia). The record supported entitlement to TDIU at that time due to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include insomnia due post-traumatic stress disorder and a skin disorder. The evidence did not support the presence of these conditions as a result of service.

The Board dismissed the appeal of service connection for a back disorder and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The veteran's anxiety disorder was found not to be related to his military service.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that pneumonia was not incurred or aggravated during active service and did not result from a service-connected disability. The Board also found that the service-connected schizophrenia did not contribute to the veteran's death.

The veteran's schizophrenia is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board found that this rating was appropriate. The veteran's service-connected disability did not preclude him from securing and following some form of substantially gainful employment.