Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2002

The veteran's claim for secondary service connection for a disorder of the pancreas was denied. His hemorrhoids were granted an increased evaluation, and his residuals of rectal cancer received a higher rating after August 26, 2000. The veteran's psychiatric condition was rated at 70 percent effective from August 26, 2000.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a psychiatric disorder, defective vision or hyperactive lung disease that is causally related to service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that new evidence supports a reopening of the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia and assigned a 10 percent rating for the veteran's cervical spine disability. The appeal is also granted on reopening of the claim due to new evidence.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a chronic psychiatric disorder, as the evidence did not bear directly and substantially upon the specific matter under consideration regarding service connection.

The veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claim is denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for lack of jurisdiction and transferred it back to the RO for a determination on the matter consistent with the Court of Appeals and Veterans Claims Court decisions.

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. The petition is granted.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including respiratory disorders, psychiatric disabilities, gastrointestinal issues, musculoskeletal problems, and nose bleeds. The claims were not decided on the merits due to lack of evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, finding that his schizophrenia did not begin during or as a result of his military service.

The veteran's claim to reopen the issue of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder was denied in an unappealed rating decision dated in July 1989. New and material evidence has been submitted, including VA medical records that show a diagnosis of chronic, undifferentiated schizophrenia. As this new evidence is significant enough to consider the merits of the claim, the veteran's claim is reopened.

The Board denied reopening the claim of entitlement to service connection for a neuropsychiatric disorder, including conversion reaction with seizure activity.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the veteran, and thus the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board has ordered additional examinations and development of the record, including obtaining employment records from VA. The case is being remanded to comply with these orders.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral resting and intention tremors in April 1997. New evidence received after this decision, including a medical opinion linking the veteran's tremors to his military service, has reopened the claim. However, the Board found that there is no direct or presumptive link between the veteran's current conditions and his active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is not service-connected due to lack of evidence supporting a causal link between current symptoms and service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD or establish an in-service stressor.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury, to include a chronic psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected schizophrenia, but rather by non-service connected conditions such as intravenous drug abuse and diabetes mellitus.

The veteran's sole service-connected disability, chronic undifferentiated schizophrenia, renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to the effects of his medications and symptoms.

The Board has determined that the veteran's psychiatric disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.