Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2005

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for schizophrenia and for effective dates earlier than September 6, 2000, for service connection and TDIU.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than July 14, 2001, for the grant of service connection for schizophrenia. The earliest evidence of intent to reopen a claim for service connection was on July 14, 2001.

The Board denied reopening of claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, with the exception that a claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was reopened but not substantiated.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that the current psychiatric disorder, variously diagnosed, is related to service.

The Board denied the claim as the cause of death was not related to service, and there is no evidence that the veteran's psychiatric disability caused or aggravated his heart disease.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's schizophrenia was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service and denied his claim.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 21, 1999 for the grant of service connection for schizophrenia, paranoid type. This is based on a petition to reopen filed in September 1999.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to representation and scheduling of a hearing.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient explanations in prior opinions and the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security records and scheduling an examination.

The VA has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the appellant's right knee disability, effective from March 14, 2001. The rating is based on limitation of motion and instability, with no significant change in condition warranting staged ratings.

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

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and a personality disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to unsuccessful attempts in obtaining the veteran's service department and service medical records for his active duty period from March 1973 to July 1975 and reserve duty period from 1988 to 1998. The VA must make reasonable efforts to assist the veteran in obtaining evidence necessary to substantiate his claim, including reviewing all available service department and service medical records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder did not originate in service and was not aggravated by military service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's paranoid schizophrenia pre-existed her active military service and was not aggravated during service, thus denying service connection.

The Board finds that the veteran's service experience is consistent with combat, and his statements about stressors are credible. Therefore, the acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD is granted as incurred in service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, currently claimed as paranoid schizophrenia. The Board also found that the veteran's schizoaffective disorder was incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses for dental treatment and surgeries at the UAB School of Dentistry between August 2001 and May 2002 is denied because the care was not rendered in a medical emergency that would have been hazardous to his life or health.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeal because he did not timely file an appeal for a denial of an earlier effective date for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia.