Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2003

The veteran's schizophrenia and delusional disorder are found to be service-connected. The claim for PTSD, anxiety, and a personality disorder is denied as per law.

The Board found that the veteran's psychiatric disability is not related to his service and was not aggravated by his service-connected cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities. The claim for an increased rating for the cervical spine disability met the criteria, but the reduction in rating from 60 percent to 40 percent for the lumbar spine disability prior to September 23, 2002, was denied as not warranted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, and hepatitis due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's VA benefits are currently at a 100% rating for paranoid schizophrenia. The appellant is requesting an increase in the apportionment of these benefits to cover her and her son G.J.R., with the current amount being less than 20% of the veteran's benefits, which does not provide a reasonable amount for the apportionee.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, and increased the rating for lumbosacral strain to 30 percent. The total disability evaluation claim is remanded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's schizophrenia existed prior to service and did not increase in severity during service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for schizophrenia due to new evidence submitted since the June 1985 RO decision.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's psychiatric disorder was not incurred or aggravated by active military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability. The application is granted.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, which was previously denied in August 1978. The veteran's history of symptoms following his mother's death during service is now considered relevant to the claim.

The veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for VA pension purposes was denied due to his failure to report for scheduled examinations without explanation, and the evidence did not show that his innocently acquired disabilities rendered him permanently and totally disabled.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for schizophrenia, which was previously denied in 1984. The veteran's current diagnosis of schizophrenia is attributed to his service.

The VA determined that there is no evidence of a current acquired psychiatric disorder related to the veteran's service, including post-traumatic stress disorder.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a travel board hearing. The issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent for schizophrenia, paranoid type and entitlement to TDIU remain before the Board.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for ear pain and a psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no legal basis to grant these claims due to lack of evidence linking current disabilities to military service.

The Board has found that the veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disability attributable to military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of service connection for paranoid schizophrenia, finding that there is no convincing evidence to show that his current condition was caused by any incident or event of service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current residuals of a head injury incurred in service, and thus cannot establish service connection for this condition. The claim for schizophrenia is not before the Board on appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that it did not occur during active duty and was not caused by or aggravated by any service-connected condition.