Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2004

The Board denied the appellant's claims for restoration of a total evaluation based on individual unemployability and an increased evaluation for his service-connected psychiatric disorder, citing insufficient evidence of his employability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 9, 1997 for a grant of service connection for a psychiatric disorder based on CUE in their 1985 decision.

The Board found that the veteran's current psychiatric disorder did not have its onset during service or within one year thereafter, and is not related to any in-service disease or injury. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for the issue of entitlement to service connection for hypertension prior to a decision being made by the Board.

The veteran is seeking service connection for schizophrenia, which he claims first manifested during his active duty. The Board finds that additional evidence is needed to substantiate this claim and remands the case for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development, including notification of his rights under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 and scheduling of VA examinations. The issues on appeal include service connection for a mental disorder as secondary to service-connected residuals of head trauma, increased ratings for knee disabilities, and TDIU.

The veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and his service-connected schizophrenia did not meet the criteria for a 100% rating for more than ten years prior to his death. Therefore, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims to reopen his service connection for personality disorder and acquired psychiatric disability, finding that no new and material evidence had been presented.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and ensuring compliance with VA's obligations under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's motion alleging clear and unmistakable error in a prior decision denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability. The Board found that the denial was not CUE.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and basic eligibility for pension benefits due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between any current disability and service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that it is secondary to her service-connected eye disability.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to the service-connected L3-L4 bulging disc and degenerative joint disease and chronic lumbosacral fibromyositis. The veteran's claims for left arm, shoulders, and neck disabilities as secondary to the service connected condition and an increased evaluation for the lower back disability are being REMANDED for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and information from Social Security Administration.

The Board found that the appellant does not have a current diagnosis of loss of taste and smell, nor is there any medical evidence relating this condition to service. For his psychiatric disorder claim, the Board determined that there is no medical evidence linking it to service.

The Board finds that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, did not have its onset during active service or result from disease or injury in service. The personality disorder is not a diseases or injury within the meaning of applicable legislation for which service connection may be granted. Alcoholism and mixed substance abuse are a result of the veteran's own willful misconduct.

The Board found that the veteran's psychiatric disorder is not related to his service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim.

The veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes PTSD. The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to clarify the nature of his claimed stressors and to determine if he currently suffers from a diagnosed psychiatric condition.