Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2003

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) found that the July 16, 1982 rating decision granting service connection for PTSD and assigning an effective date of November 13, 1981 was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized prescriptions provided by a private pharmacy was denied as he did not meet the requirements for reimbursement under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of her husband's death, compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for multiple myeloma as a result of VA treatment for schizophrenia, and service connection for the cause of her husband's death pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 on the basis of clear and unmistakable errors in rating decision are all denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including chronic anxiety disorder. The evidence is in equipoise on whether this condition was incurred during active duty service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's seizure disorder and PTSD are service-connected, with no presumption or secondary connection involved.

The Board found no evidence of a psychosis in service and denied the claim for service connection for schizophrenia.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia cannot be reopened due to lack of new and material evidence, as all submitted evidence is either duplicative or cumulative.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder will be adjudicated de novo.

The veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder is productive of some occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating.

The Board found that the veteran's vocational goal was not reasonably feasible for purposes of entitlement to vocational rehabilitation and training under Chapter 31, Title 38, United States Code.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no credible evidence supporting these claims.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to schizophrenia, finding that the earliest date was July 24, 1995.

The veteran was granted a 100 percent rating for schizophrenia effective from November 21, 2000. The RO found clear and unmistakable error in prior decisions that did not consider VA hospital records related to the veteran's service-connected schizophrenia.

The Board has determined that the veteran's initial symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia occurred during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that the claim was received in December 8, 1993 and no prior informal claim existed within one year prior.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a disability manifested by chemical imbalance and new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen her claim of service connection for schizophrenia. Therefore, both claims are denied.

The Board found no evidence that the appellant's psychiatric disorder began during his military service, and denied the claim.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychotic disorder, finding that it is related to his period of service. The claim was previously denied in February 1996 due to lack of new and material evidence.

The VA determined that the veteran's psychiatric disability, classified as schizophrenic reaction, does not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 30 percent evaluation due to its stable nature and mild symptoms.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 21, 1988 for a 100 percent evaluation for schizophrenia.