Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2005

The veteran's paranoid schizophrenia is productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence to support a finding of retinal tears in the left eye, and thus service connection for this condition cannot be granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia, finding that new and material evidence had been submitted but denying the claim.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, effective April 10, 2002. The veteran previously had a claim denied in 1954 for schizophrenia but did not appeal this decision. In 2002, he submitted a new claim for PTSD and was granted service connection with an effective date of April 10, 2002.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical history and a need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VCAA notifications and a need for further evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining a correct mailing address for the veteran and seeking additional medical records. The appeal will be considered again after these steps are completed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and malaria, finding no evidence of a current disability or in-service stressor. The claim for malaria was also not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining information about his exposure to noise during service and arranging for a psychiatric examination.

The Board denied service connection for schizophrenia in a March 1984 decision, finding no evidence of the condition during or within one year after service. The veteran's claim was reopened and reconsidered, but new evidence received since that time did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has not decided the service connection claims as they are considered to be reopened, but new and material evidence was not provided for either claim. The veteran's psychiatric disability is currently treated, and his back disability continues to be treated.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including paranoid schizophrenia, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not otherwise related to service. The VA examiner concluded that the veteran's condition was not caused or exacerbated by his period of military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depression). The appeal regarding post-traumatic stress disorder is being remanded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder results in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, warranting a 30 percent rating. The evidence does not support an increase in disability rating.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but further development is needed before a final decision can be made.

The Board has ordered a remand for the veteran to be scheduled for an examination and medical opinion regarding his knee, back, and psychiatric disorders. The case will also be reviewed to determine if there is new evidence that could reopen his claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has reopened the veteran's service connection claim for a lumbar spine disability due to new evidence showing current back disability. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability remains denied.,An effective date earlier than July 25, 2003 for non-service connected pension benefits is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a diagnosed psychiatric disability, including PTSD, and therefore service connection cannot be granted.

The Board determined that the veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder present in service or manifested within one year of separation from service, and thus cannot be presumed to have been incurred during such service. The current diagnosis is not related to service.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain additional medical records and for further review of the veteran's claim regarding his service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.