Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2002

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as schizophrenia, clearly and unmistakably preexisted her entry into military service and was not aggravated by service. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 14, 1995 for the grant of service connection for bipolar disorder.

The Board denied the appellant's claim of entitlement to special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, finding that his disabilities did not result in helplessness due to mental or physical impairment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's paranoid schizophrenia was incurred during active service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran is incompetent for VA purposes due to his history of compulsive gambling and financial difficulties.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals found that the veteran does not currently have PTSD, and his schizophrenia is considered a direct service connection based on his in-service experiences. The decision mixed some elements of granting and denying aspects related to these conditions.

The Board denied the appellant's attempt to reopen her claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that new and material evidence did not establish a causal link between the veteran's death and his service-connected condition.

The Board found that the veteran's mental state and noncompliance with psychiatric treatment currently prevent him from successfully pursuing a vocational rehabilitation program and becoming gainfully employed in an occupation consistent with his abilities, aptitudes, and interests.

The Board has determined that there was clear and unmistakable error in the May 1983 rating decision, which prevented service connection for dysarthria, ataxia involving the left arm, side, and leg, and a psychiatric disability with headaches. The effective date of these awards is January 17, 1983.

The veteran seeks an effective date earlier than June 6, 2000 for the assignment of a 100 percent rating for his service-connected undifferentiated type schizophrenic reaction. The Board has granted this claim and assigned the effective date as June 6, 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than July 29, 1971, for service connection for schizophrenia based on clear and unmistakable error in prior VA rating decisions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for impotence, numbness of hands and feet, actinic keratosis and/or keratitic hyperkeratosis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder on a direct basis. The appeals were not decided based on undiagnosed illness.

The Board found that no currently diagnosed psychiatric disorder is attributable to the veteran's period of active service.

The Board has granted a 70 percent evaluation for the service-connected schizophrenia and a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of psychiatric disability and is granting it on the merits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disability and alcohol abuse disability, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the psychiatric claim and precluding the alcohol abuse claim due to VA compensation laws.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected PTSD with schizophrenia from February 10, 1989 through February 1, 1998.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date of July 5, 1989 for a grant of service connection for schizophrenia. The decision is based on the fact that no document can be construed as a 'claim to reopen' prior to July 5, 1989.

The Board has decided that the veteran's claim of service connection for schizophrenia should be remanded due to a lack of opinion regarding whether active military service aggravated his pre-existing condition.

The Board found that the appellant's psychiatric disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by military service and denied his claim.