Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2004

The veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including chronic schizophrenia paranoid type, is being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has granted an increased rating for the veteran's postoperative residuals of a herniated nucleus pulposus at L5-S1, and has also granted service connection for obesity secondary to this condition. The effective date is set as November 9, 1992.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was incurred in service and is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, peripheral neuropathy, and a skin disorder. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen his previously denied claim for a psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease, lung cancer, alcoholism, and a psychiatric disorder, all claimed as secondary to tobacco use. The Board also denied his claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for asbestosis.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to diagnose all of the veteran's psychiatric disabilities and provide an opinion regarding their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for a skin condition, fatigue, and a psychiatric disorder due to exposure to Agent Orange. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were not.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the veteran died during the pendency of the appeal and thus no longer has jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the claim.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for a 100 percent disability evaluation for schizophrenia, which was granted in May 22, 1992. The case has been remanded due to the need for further adjudication of his claim.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 10, 1990, for the grant of service connection for a seizure disorder with psychiatric symptoms. The decision is in favor of reopening the claim.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The case will be further developed to determine if there is credible evidence of a stressor incident in service and whether the veteran meets the criteria for service connection.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disorder, and the case has been remanded to gather more information about his claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication, including obtaining additional evidence from the appellant and ensuring a de novo review of all relevant evidence.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disorder. The veteran's disability manifested by lumbosacral facet syndrome is due to disease or injury incurred in active service, while damage to cutaneous innervation of midposterior thoracic area is also likely due to an injury in active service.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The veteran testified about his treatment after service, continuity of care, and Social Security Disability payments.

The veteran's schizophrenia resulted in total social and industrial impairment since April 19, 2003, which was the date he became unemployed due to his condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of his low back disorder, service connection for a psychiatric disorder, and TDIU due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for muscular pain and neuropsychiatric disorder, both claimed as due to an undiagnosed illness during his Gulf War service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the veteran's claims, including service connection for gastrointestinal disability and psychiatric disorder.