Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2009

The Board has granted a 100% rating for schizophrenia and reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for arthritis of the low back, knees, cervical spine, left hip, right femur, left femur, right hand, left hand, right wrist, left wrist, and left shoulder. The Veteran is also entitled to an increased rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae and pes planus.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an examination for the Veteran's psychiatric disorder due to the difficulty in scheduling an examination under VA policy and Florida Department of Corrections policy.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and diabetes mellitus, both presumed to be due to exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for VA pension benefits was denied as the evidence did not show he was permanently and totally disabled prior to November 1999.

The Board has determined that the February 1979 rating decision severing service connection for schizophrenia was clearly and unmistakably erroneous, warranting a revision in favor of the appellant.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including whether it is linked to an in-service event or secondary to service-connected back disability. The claims will be adjudicated on a direct basis for the acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disability is related to service. The appeal will be considered again after this development.

The Board denied service connection for asthma and an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, finding that the Veteran's conditions preexisted service or were not aggravated by service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizoid personality disorder. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric condition related to military service.

The Board determined that the appellant's left shoulder disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder were not incurred or aggravated by military service, as they preexisted service. The Board found no evidence of aggravation during service.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as schizophrenia, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The gap between discharge from active duty and initial reported symptoms related to a psychiatric disorder is noted, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and psychiatric disorder are both found to be related to service, with the Board granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and HSV-II are related to his military service, granting these claims.

The Board denied service connection for a neuropsychiatric disorder, including organic brain syndrome with personality disorder and depressive syndrome, due to clear and unmistakable evidence showing the condition pre-existed service. The Veteran's National Guard service did not aggravate this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to a lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressors actually occurred.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right foot/ankle injury and a psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request to lift his finding of incompetency for VA purposes, citing a history of multisubstance abuse and psychotic symptoms that require hospitalization.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hand and wrist disorder, diagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome, is service-connected. The sinus disorder was not found to be related to service. The acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD was also granted service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and right leg arthritis, as these conditions were diagnosed too remotely after service.

The Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia has been rated at 30 percent prior to May 18, 1999 and increased to 50 percent effective from that date. The Board found the rating for the period before May 18, 1999 was appropriate but denied a higher rating after that date.