Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2006

The veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder (schizophrenic reaction, undifferentiated type) contributed substantially or materially to his cause of death. The appellant is granted eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining additional medical records. The appellant's schizophrenia is currently rated at 30 percent.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for schizophrenia is being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records and ensure compliance with VCAA requirements.

The veteran's service connection claims for cerebrovascular accident, sleep disorder, seizure disorder, headache disorder, joint pain, fatigue, skin disorder, muscle pain, and neuropsychiatric signs or symptoms are denied as they do not meet the criteria for service connection due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board found that the veteran does not suffer from PTSD related to his service, and his currently diagnosed dysthymia and depression clearly existed prior to service. The low back disability was also denied as it did not become manifest during or after service.

The veteran's schizophrenia is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating due to mild or transient symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues regarding the verification of stressors and the need for additional evidence, including SSA records. The appellant is seeking service connection for PTSD related to alleged physical/sexual assaults during military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia and a psychosis for treatment purposes due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or related to his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The Board has ordered additional development to verify the veteran's claimed stressors, including a tank accident and a suicide attempt. The claim for service connection will be reconsidered after this information is obtained.

The Board has determined that the veteran's schizophrenia began during service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the appellant could not be recognized as a helpless child of his deceased veteran father for VA benefit purposes due to lack of evidence showing he was permanently incapable of self-support prior to reaching the age of 18.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a nervous disorder, PTSD, and bilateral foot problems. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen his claim of an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD).

The veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining inpatient treatment records and medical records from the Social Security Administration and VA Medical Center. The veteran will be asked to provide details about a head injury sustained during service and undergo a VA examination if it is determined that such an injury occurred.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than July 10, 1998 for a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the lack of factual ascertainability that his service-connected psychiatric disability resulted in severe social and industrial inadaptability prior to that date.

The Board has granted service connection for a factitious disorder and has denied service connection for a neuropsychiatric disorder, also claimed as an undiagnosed illness. The veteran's lumbosacral spine DJD is rated at the maximum available evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his schizophrenia and TDIU, finding that the evidence did not support a schedular evaluation in excess of 50 percent. The veteran was also found to have no deficiency in his ability to establish and maintain effective relationships.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder and left ear hearing loss, but granted service connection for left ear hearing loss. The claim for increased ratings for ureterolithiasis and right ear hearing loss is remanded.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his schizophrenia, paranoid type, rated at 50 percent, was denied as he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.