Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2010

The Veteran seeks service connection for a psychiatric disorder, specifically paranoid schizophrenia. The Board has ordered further development of his medical records and will consider the case again after obtaining all relevant information.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a chronic psychiatric disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a diagnosed PTSD related to his service and therefore denied his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's schizophrenia is as likely as not attributable to his active military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and major depressive disorder. The case is being remanded to the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 11, 2007 for the grant of a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service-connected schizophrenia was denied. The Board found that the earliest effective date for TDIU is September 16, 2004.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any current bilateral eye disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on all evidence of record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not support a finding that his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was not shown to be related to his military service and denied the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the Veteran's current psychiatric diagnoses and the low threshold for requiring an examination and medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of reopening his service connection for psychiatric disability, including PTSD, finding no new and material evidence to support the claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting psychiatric disability, manifested by schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, existed prior to his entry into active service. The presumption of soundness is rebutted because clear and unmistakable evidence demonstrates that the condition was not aggravated during service.

The Veteran is granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety) and PTSD, as these conditions are found to be related to his military service. The Board determined that the Veteran's anxiety symptoms during service were similar to his current PTSD symptoms.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and right ear hearing loss, finding new and material evidence. The claims are granted on their merits.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for psychiatric disorder and granted it, but denied the claim for residuals of botulism.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and additional VA examinations to address the etiology of his headaches and pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and thus service connection is denied. The claims of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and alcohol abuse are also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic paranoid schizophrenia was incurred during active military service, as it preexisted service but was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia, catatonic type, is manifested by total occupational and nearly total social impairment, due to symptoms such as gross impairment in social functioning, intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene), disorientation to time, serious memory loss, and inability to maintain employment. The Board finds that the service-connected psychiatric disability currently approximates the criteria for a 100 percent rating.