Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2005

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected schizophrenia did not cause his death, and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's previously denied claim of service connection for paranoid schizophrenia.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for additional development due to failure to obtain certain medical records and personnel records.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30 percent evaluation of schizophrenia, finding that the evidence does not support such a determination.

The veteran had not been rated as 100% disabling during the entire ten years preceding his death, and there is no indication that he would have been rated as 100% disabled except for clear and unmistakable error in a prior decision. The appellant's claim is based on hypothetical entitlement during his lifetime.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, an increased rating for asthma, and TDIU prior to August 9, 2000. The effective date of the 100% disability rating for paranoid schizophrenia was set at August 9, 2000.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, claimed as depression, and denied the other issues on appeal. The veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus was not supported by evidence in the record at the time of the last final denial. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding no evidence to support a diagnosis related to his active military service. The issue was reopened based on new and material evidence submitted by the veteran.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for psychiatric disability, which was previously denied in unappealed rating decisions. The claim is now reopened.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to unclear service connection and pension issues, including a need for additional medical evaluations.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder. The claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and left knee disability are addressed in the remand following this order.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death from doxepin and alcohol intoxication was likely caused by his service-connected schizophrenia with related chronic alcohol abuse/dependence, granting service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are granted, with some issues receiving a 10% evaluation and others not. The decision is based on direct evidence of in-service injury and subsequent disability.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a diagnosed neuropsychiatric disorder related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that schizophrenia was not shown in service and there is no evidence of a nexus to service. The veteran's low back disorder claim is remanded as it lacks current medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development under the VCAA, including notification and potential examination to determine if a current acquired psychiatric disorder is related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional procedural development, including obtaining service personnel/administrative records and medical records from various sources. The claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a back disorder with associated lower extremity weakness, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for the psychiatric disorder and concluding that there is no relationship between the current back and lower extremity disorders and service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including paranoid schizophrenia, is related to his military service and grants this claim.

The Board granted service connection for undifferentiated schizophrenia secondary to the service-connected left eye disability, effective from February 18, 2000.