Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2003

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that his current psychiatric problems are not related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as adjustment disorder with depressed mood, is not caused or aggravated by her service-connected seizure disorder or anticonvulsive medications used to control seizures.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's schizophrenia, undifferentiated type, finding that his condition did not meet criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to obstructive nephropathy and schizophrenia, finding no direct evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The veteran's claims are now subject to de novo review.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher initial evaluation and earlier effective date for service connection of schizophrenia. The veteran was granted service connection in August 2000, but the effective date is set at the date of receipt of his application to reopen on February 10, 1995.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, finding that there was no evidence linking his current psychiatric condition to his military service.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, effectively dismissing the case.

The veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes was denied as he failed to report for a scheduled VA psychiatric examination without good cause.

The veteran's claim for increased non-service-connected special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance was denied as he is able to perform many daily activities without assistance.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current diagnosis of dissociative disorder, not otherwise specified is a later manifestation of symptoms noted in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Board found that the veteran's right varicocele was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, and denied both his claim for secondary service connection and his TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the appellant's schizophrenia, undifferentiated type, warrants a 50 percent evaluation and that he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the evidence submitted did not constitute new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, as it did not provide information directly pertinent to the underlying question of service connection beyond what was known previously.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, due to new and material evidence submitted since the March 1990 decision.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and increased evaluations for his service-connected flexible joint syndrome of the elbows were denied. The claim for service connection for chronic serous otitis was also denied.

The appellant's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses was denied because the treatment did not meet all statutory requirements, including lack of prior authorization and failure to satisfy one of the three criteria under 38 C.F.R. § 17.120.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia, finding no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to a TDIU rating effective from July 7, 1993, based on his service-connected psychiatric disorder and low back disorder.

The Board found that the evidence did not provide a basis to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and denied the claim. The veteran's claim for residuals of brain trauma was also denied as there was no competent medical evidence linking his current condition to service.