Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2004

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected undifferentiated-type schizophrenia, currently rated at 50 percent.

The Board found that the veteran does not suffer from PTSD and there is no evidence linking any current acquired psychiatric disability to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The acquired psychiatric disorder claimed as memory loss, personality disorder, and temper trouble is also denied due to lack of a confirmed diagnosis.

The Board found that the veteran's schizophrenia did not begin during service and was not caused by any incident of service. As a result, the claim for service connection for schizophrenia was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 28, 2002 for increased ratings of his psychiatric disorder and left knee disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for compliance with provisions of the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA). The veteran's claims for service connection and an earlier effective date are being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to comply with VCAA requirements.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension with cardiac disease and a mental disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right leg disability and PTSD. The evidence did not support a finding of a nexus between these conditions and military service.

The veteran's request for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the defective recording of his hearing testimony. He will be scheduled for another hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Board finds that the veteran's current psychiatric disorder is at least as likely as not to have had its onset during his military service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examinations and records, including mental health records from service and treatment records from private facilities. The veteran's current psychiatric disability is being evaluated to determine if it is related to his military service.

The Board has granted a 100% evaluation for the veteran's service-connected paranoid schizophrenia, which is currently rated at 50%. The issue of TDIU is dismissed as moot due to the assigned rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication, including obtaining VA examinations to determine the nature and likely etiology of any claimed foot and eye disorders.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder due to new evidence showing diagnoses of schizophrenia and depression. The claim for chronic headaches remains denied as there is no current diagnosis or link between any diagnosed condition and military service.

The Board found that the RO's initial grant of service connection for nicotine addiction and chronic bronchitis was clearly erroneous, and thus severed this service connection. The veteran does not have hypertension or heart disease related to military service or service-connected disability. He also does not have an acquired psychiatric disability, hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, or dizziness that are related to military service.

The Board found that the veteran's psychiatric disorder is not etiologically related to service or his service-connected back disability, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed stressors have been adequately verified, but there is insufficient evidence to establish a diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric disorder. The case is remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the case due to the veteran's failure to attend an RO hearing, and he is asked to provide additional evidence or argument.