Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2007

The veteran's schizophrenia was initially rated at 30 percent from April 30, 1993. From February 24, 1997 onwards, the rating has been granted as 30 percent.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability determination records and providing proper notice.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychological disorder, as his previous denial was based on lack of evidence relating PTSD or other disorders to service.

The veteran's major depression has been rated at 50 percent since July 19, 1990. The Board found that the symptoms have not resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal for both issues of service connection.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) found that schizophrenia did not manifest in service or within one year thereafter and has not been shown to be causally related to the veteran's military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for schizophrenia was denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia was denied in 1990, and he did not appeal the decision. The petition to reopen his claim was received on November 22, 1994, and service connection was granted with an effective date of November 22, 1994.,The veteran also sought a TDIU rating prior to November 22, 1994, when he had no service-connected disabilities. The claim for TDIU is denied as the preponderance of evidence does not support it.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, increased the evaluation of residuals of a comminuted fracture of the right wrist with fasciotomy and degenerative joint disease to 40 percent, and increased the evaluation of partial ulnar nerve palsy of the right hand to 40 percent. The initial compensable evaluation for residual scarring of the right arm has also been granted.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and schizophrenia in July 1999, finding no credible evidence of the claimed inservice stressors or medical evidence linking the conditions to military service. The veteran's new claims were not considered material due to lack of new information.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic psychiatric disorder at separation from service or for many years thereafter, and no competent evidence linking the veteran's current mental fatigue to his period of active duty service. Therefore, service connection was denied.

The Board denied service connection for schizophrenia, hernia, cellulitis of the right foot, and edema of the right foot. The veteran's claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. There is no current finding or diagnosis linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia and is now considering whether this condition was incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of urethritis and denied service connection for this condition. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is pending as it relates to the veteran's claimed in-service stressors.

The veteran requested to withdraw his claim for service connection for asbestosis, secondary to asbestos exposure. The Board dismissed the appeal.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for PTSD, but further development is needed to verify stressors and determine if a diagnosis of PTSD can be made. The case is REMANDED for these purposes.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to service, and granted his claim for service connection.

The Board has ordered a new examination to determine if the veteran's current psychiatric disabilities are related to his period of active service, and VA treatment records from March 2005 to the present should be obtained.

The Board has determined that the appellant was insane at the time of his offenses and therefore, his service is otherwise honest, faithful, and meritorious. As such, he is not precluded from receiving VA benefits.

The Board dismissed the motion alleging clear and unmistakable error in an August 1989 decision that denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, as the veteran did not provide specific allegations of error.