Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2004

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, COPD, a psychiatric disability, and hepatitis C. The claim for reopening of the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral ankle disabilities is also denied.

The veteran requested withdrawals of his appeals for service connection on multiple issues, including penetrating keratoplasty of the left eye, herpes zoster, and fatigue due to an undiagnosed illness. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, concluding that the condition was not incurred or aggravated by service and no presumption of service connection applies.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which is now considered. The diagnosis of schizophrenia was made prior to active service but symptoms began during service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further action, including contacting the Defense Finance and Accounting Service to determine the amount of disability severance pay he was entitled to in December 1972. The Internal Revenue Service will also be contacted to obtain tax records related to this payment.

The Board found that the veteran's schizophrenia did not start during service or within one year of service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia and a back condition, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen his claims.

The VA denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and granted a 10 percent rating for a scar of the face and neck, but did not address the initial rating claim.

The Board has ordered the RO to obtain additional medical records and provide a new VA medical opinion. The appeal will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed back disorder, right hip disorder, right knee disorder, right leg disorder, psychiatric disorder, and blistered penis disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied service connection for schizophrenia and diabetes mellitus, finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

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

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date of February 18, 1998, for a 100 percent schedular rating for his service-connected chronic schizophrenia.

The Board has determined that schizophrenia is presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the current severity of the service-connected disabilities at issue.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD and finds that he has a major depressive disorder related to service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully consider the veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disability, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration records. The veteran will be provided with an opportunity to respond to this decision.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for further development due to a failure to provide proper VCAA notice.

The veteran's tinnitus is rated at the highest available rating of 10 percent, and no higher rating is granted.

The Board is remanding the veteran's claims for service connection and reopening of a claim due to incomplete information in the record, including missing SSA records. The RO must ensure all necessary actions are taken to obtain these records and provide proper VCAA notice.