Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2003

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection have not been met, as there is no evidence of a psychiatric disorder related to his military service.

The Board denied an increased rating for schizophrenia, undifferentiated type, and found that a TDIU was warranted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for bilateral pes planus and also denied his request for an increased rating for his psychiatric disability. The evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening the claim of service connection, as it was found to be cumulative or redundant.

Your case has been sent back to the Regional Office for further development and consideration of your claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no evidence of such a condition during or within one year after his period of active duty. The Board also found that presumptive service connection is not available due to the lack of a psychosis within the year following service.

The Board has ordered further development in the appellant's case, including obtaining additional medical records and providing a supplemental statement of the case. The appeal is currently remanded for these actions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's gastrointestinal disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board is reopening the claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury, including a visual disability, and for a disability of the left ulnar nerve, including post-traumatic numbness of the 4th and 5th digits. Additional development is needed to properly adjudicate these issues.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) has decided to deny the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder due to incomplete service medical records and lack of evidence linking his current condition to his military service. The BVA found that while the veteran served in Vietnam, there is no direct evidence connecting any psychiatric issues he currently experiences with his time in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural deficiencies in notification under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current post-traumatic encephalopathy and various diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are due to aggravation of a pre-existing head injury during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's schizophrenia is of service origin and grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, resulting in a denial.

The Board denied service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and granted service connection for bipolar disorder. The veteran's claim for nonservice-connected disability pension is remanded.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, which was previously denied. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not timely appeal the decisions denying his claims for service connection for a skin rash due to Agent Orange exposure, and for reopening of his claims for service connection for a skin disability and a psychiatric disorder as secondary to the skin disability.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and hearing testimony.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current psychiatric, gastrointestinal, or cardiovascular conditions to service. The acquired psychiatric disorder is not considered service-connected due to lack of medical evidence connecting it to service. Residuals from colon cancer surgery and irritable bowel syndrome are also not linked to service. Hypertension was not shown to be related to service either.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues and evidence needs to be gathered. The case will be returned for additional consideration.

The veteran's heart disability is not service-connected, and his psychiatric disability appeal was never perfected. The VA has granted an increased rating for bronchial asthma to 60%, denied initial ratings in excess of 10% for diabetes mellitus prior to February 28, 1999, and denied initial ratings in excess of 20% for diabetes mellitus on and after that date.