Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2008

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA aid and attendance examination to evaluate his current level of disability, including his ability to care for himself at home.

The veteran's claims for service connection for variously diagnosed psychiatric disorder, chronic fatigue, and memory loss have been denied as there is no evidence to support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Board found that the veteran timely filed a Substantive Appeal regarding his claim for an earlier effective date for service connection and rating for schizophrenia. The appeal was granted.

The veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his scar of the left foot, were denied increased ratings. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's right and left knee disabilities were not granted increased ratings. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's scar of the left foot was not granted a compensable rating. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's headaches were not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's bilateral pes planus was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's sleep disorder was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's multiple joint pain was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's neurological disorder was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, chest pains, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's chest pains were not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, memory loss, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's memory loss was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, and dizziness have all been reopened but are still denied.,The veteran's dizziness was not granted service connection. The claims for service connection for dermatitis/skin disorder, alopecia/hair loss, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome/fatigue, bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, multiple joint pain, neurological disorder, chest pains, memory loss, and psychiatric disorder other than PTSD have all been reopened but are still denied.

The Board denied service connection for schizophrenia, paranoid type in April 1985 due to lack of evidence showing a chronic psychiatric disorder during service and no objective findings upon separation.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the veteran's schizoaffective disorder began during active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, finding no evidence of such condition during active duty and concluding that the current diagnosis is not related to service.

The Board found that the veteran's schizophrenia existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal of increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremity, as well as his claim for erectile dysfunction have been withdrawn. The Board has dismissed these issues due to withdrawal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and entitlement to TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Board found no evidence of a diagnosed PTSD and concluded that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was not incurred in or related to service. The claim for PTSD was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for psychiatric disability, including agoraphobia with underlying depression due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO. The case will be returned to the Board after this action.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, tremors, and muscle/nerve disability have been denied as there is no competent evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need to verify his exposure to Agent Orange in Korea.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have chronic fatigue syndrome etiologically related to active service and denies his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the appellant is not entitled to VA death pension benefits as a helpless child due to her current age and lack of evidence showing she was permanently incapable of self-support prior to her 18th birthday.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating of his schizophrenia is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional records from VA treatment providers.

The veteran's appeal was timely filed for his claims of service connection for chronic fatigue, various undiagnosed illnesses, and a mental disorder. The Board found that the August 1995 submission constituted a timely substantive appeal to the November 1994 rating decision.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion on whether the veteran's alcohol abuse was related to his service-connected schizophrenia.