Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD need further development to corroborate stressors and obtain medical opinions regarding their etiology. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for schizophrenia, finding that no new and material evidence had been received since the November 2000 denial.

The Board found no evidence of lead poisoning in service and concluded that the veteran's current psychiatric/brain disability is not related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was not caused or aggravated by his active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and information regarding his right foot injuries and mental disorder.

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected schizophrenia, prior to May 1, 2002, was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic paranoid schizophrenia, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise on whether it was incurred during service. Service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and reopening of a claim for chronic paranoid schizophrenia were denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability due to new and material evidence. The issue is being remanded for additional development.

The veteran's service-connected paranoid schizophrenic reaction is currently rated at 10 percent, effective September 30, 2002. The claim for a higher rating was denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and conducting a VA examination to assess the severity of his schizophrenia. The permanency issue regarding total disability rating based on individual unemployability will also be addressed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an effective date prior to March 26, 1996 for service connection of schizophrenia and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).,VA determined that the earliest effective dates for these benefits were March 26, 1996.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The case will be reviewed again after the development to determine if any benefits are granted.

The Board found that the veteran's preexisting personality disorder was not aggravated by service and denied claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and bilateral knee disability.

The Board found that the veteran's paranoid schizophrenia existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service. As a result, the claim for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia is denied.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his gastrectomy with gastroduodenostomy was denied. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, secondary to the service-connected gastrectomy, was also denied. The TDIU claim was not addressed as it did not meet the criteria.

The veteran's initial rating for residuals of multiple neck strain injuries, with traumatic arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is granted at 60 percent prior to September 23, 2002. The combined initial rating since September 23, 2002 is granted at 80 percent.

The veteran's PTSD was found to be associated with her military service. The fractures and ankle disability were not linked to the veteran's time in service. No pelvic pain or skin condition was found to have a connection to active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA records and the need to obtain the veteran's SSA disability file.

The Board found that the veteran's current psychiatric disability was not incurred in or related to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is required to determine the current nature and etiology of the veteran's psychiatric disorders, including whether they are related to his military service.