Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2004

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including duodenal ulcer disease, a psychiatric disorder, essential hypertension, chronic renal disease, left knee disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, ganglion cyst of the right wrist, hepatitis C, and hyperlipidemia. The decision also remanded the issue of service connection for a psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that there is a need for further VA examination and development of the record to determine if the veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in a psychiatric disorder, and whether his low back disability warrants an increased rating. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board found that the veteran's substantive appeal of the May 2000 rating decision was not timely filed, and thus his appellate rights regarding this decision expired.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depression, did not originate during service or is otherwise attributable to any incident, injury, or disease of active service. The claim for fibromyalgia was also denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's schizophrenia is likely to have been incurred in active military service, and it may be presumed due to its onset within a year of separation from service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evaluation due to inconsistencies in the evidence and the need for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and notifying the veteran of what evidence he needs to provide. The claims will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including providing proper VCAA notice and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain medical records and opinions regarding the cause of the veteran's death, including his psychiatric disorders and coronary artery disease. The appeal is remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for increased disability evaluation and total rating based on individual unemployability due to his bipolar disorder with paranoid schizophrenia. The RO is instructed to schedule a VA examination, obtain medical records, and readjudicate the claims.

The Board found that the veteran did not timely perfect his appeal of the May 2000 rating decision regarding service connection for a psychiatric disability, and thus does not have appellate jurisdiction over this issue. The claim was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that no new and material evidence was submitted to reopen claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, or seizure disorder. The claims were denied as the provided evidence did not present a reasonable possibility of allowing the claim.

The Board found clear and unmistakable evidence demonstrating the appellant's schizophrenia existed prior to service and was not aggravated by active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for schizophrenia is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information regarding the veteran's National Guard service and psychiatric diagnosis. The RO is instructed to obtain relevant records, determine the dates of service, and schedule a VA examination if necessary.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an effective date prior to November 2, 2000, for the grant of DIC benefits. The decision found that her claims were abandoned and thus could not establish a basis for an earlier effective date.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development, including obtaining additional service medical records and other evidence.

The veteran's initial claim for a higher disability rating for schizophrenia, paranoid type was granted in July 1998 with a 50 percent rating effective the day following his discharge from active duty. The RO later issued another decision granting a 100 percent disability rating effective May 2, 1999.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected schizophrenia did not cause or contribute to his death due to multiple gunshot wounds sustained in a domestic disturbance.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his periods of ACDUTRA, including whether it pre-existed any period of service or underwent a chronic increase in severity during those periods.