Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2004

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any chronic acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have established service connection for heart disease, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus. The issues of psychiatric disability and flat feet are pending.

The veteran's claims for reopening a psychiatric disability claim and increasing his respiratory disability rating are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA decision information and conducting a VA pulmonary examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for psychiatric disability, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by his active duty service and is not related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have a current respiratory, cardiovascular, or psychiatric disability related to service. The Board found no evidence of active tuberculosis during service and concluded that any current disabilities are not related to service.

The RO granted service connection for hepatitis C effective from December 4, 1998, and assigned a noncompensable disability rating. The appellant's other claims were addressed but not decided in this decision.

The Board granted entitlement to TDIU effective October 17, 2003, based on the veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than October 5, 2000 for service connection of schizophrenia and a rating in excess of 30 percent. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), finding that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-existing conditions and insufficient medical opinion regarding causation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a change in law and notification requirements under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The veteran's claim for competency determination was denied as he lacks the mental capacity to manage his own affairs, including handling VA benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) and an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and need for clarification of periods of active duty.

The Board found no evidence of a service-related psychiatric disability and denied the claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the veteran's claimed schizophrenia.

The Board has determined that service connection is granted for schizophrenia, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the veteran.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD and granted service connection for PTSD. Further development is needed to determine the specific nature of any current psychiatric disability.

The veteran is granted a rating of 70 percent for his psychiatric disorder, classified as undifferentiated type schizophrenia with depressive features, effective April 16, 2002.,The veteran's claim for an increased rating prior to April 16, 2002, remains pending and the RO has not yet adjudicated it. The veteran is granted a total rating based on individual unemployability from July 1996 due to his service-connected disabilities.