Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2004

The Board finds that the veteran does not have a current psychiatric disorder or skin disorder related to his active service, but he did experience headaches during active duty for training. The veteran's current headaches are considered as an undiagnosed illness due to his Gulf War service.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected lumbosacral strain and schizophrenia are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new VA examinations.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder based on new and material evidence.,Service connection remains pending for chronic bronchial asthma, but the veteran withdrew his appeal regarding this issue.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD and alcoholism are service-connected, but his acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is not. The appeal was reopened on new evidence.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete verification of his period of active duty and the need for additional medical examinations.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD have been reopened, but the claim for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD has been granted. The rating assigned is 100%.

The Board finds that the veteran's psychiatric disorders are not causally related to service or his service-connected aquagenic pruritus. Therefore, service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to service-connected aquagenic pruritus is denied.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for psychiatric and hip disabilities, but denied all other issues due to lack of evidence showing an in-service origin or a nexus to service.

The Board has remanded the case to the M&ROC for further development and readjudication due to issues related to increased evaluation for paranoid type schizophrenia and TDIU.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, claimed as schizoaffective disorder. The claim was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records, including inpatient and outpatient treatment records from the Naval Hospital in Great Lakes, Bloomsburg University counseling records, and service personnel records. The claimant's social security disability application records are also needed.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia, which was previously denied in June 1986. The Board concludes that this evidence is significant enough to consider the merits of the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for further examination.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and granted entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's current diagnoses of schizophrenia and sensorineural hearing loss are considered in deciding these claims.

The veteran's cause of death, hepatic encephalopathy resulting from sepsis, is found to be due to his service-connected schizophrenia.

The Board has determined that the veteran lacks the mental capacity to handle his own financial affairs, including disbursement of VA funds due to service-connected schizophrenia.

The veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection and a higher rating for schizophrenia, paranoid type were denied.,The veteran was initially granted service connection in November 2001 but the decision is final. The RO later granted her a 70% disability rating effective December 18, 2000.

The Board denied service connection for a back condition and psychiatric disorders, finding no evidence of such conditions related to the veteran's active service.

The VA has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 50 percent disability rating since August 3, 2001.

The Board has decided to remand the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluation due to incomplete development of his medical records, including those from active duty, reserve service, private treatment providers, and VA facilities. The RO is instructed to obtain all relevant records and provide the veteran with a VA examination to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of any lower back disability and schizophrenia.