Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected paranoid schizophrenia was rated at 30 percent prior to May 15, 2001. The Board denied a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete or missing service personnel records and new evidence, requiring further development including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as a mood disorder not otherwise specified with anxious and depressive features, is related to service. The claim for an increased rating for the residuals of a left distal femur fracture with limitation of motion of the left knee remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hand tremors, a heart disability, a low back disability, a foot disability, and a psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression), finding that there was no evidence of chronicity in service or continuity of symptoms after discharge.

The Board has granted service connection for the aggravation of the appellant's depressive disorder by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the June 1997 rating decision denying service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, was clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The Court agreed with this determination and reversed the March 2006 Board decision. As a result, the effective date of service connection for depression is now warranted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied, and the effective date for the grant of TDIU is June 23, 1994.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and a pituitary macroadenoma, finding no current disability and insufficient evidence to establish a link between any in-service symptoms or conditions and his present disabilities.

The Veteran's undifferentiated-type schizophrenia is productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disability did not have its onset during active service or within one year after separation from service, or result from disease or injury in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's current diagnoses include PTSD and major depressive disorder, which are related to his active service, including coming under enemy fire while stationed in Vietnam. A VA examination is needed to assess the current nature, extent, onset, and etiology of any psychiatric disability found to be present.

The Veteran's service-connected paranoid schizophrenia has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the November 1958 rating decision regarding service connection for a psychiatric disability, as there was no formal or informal claim prior to December 24, 2002. The July 2003 rating decision denying service connection for dysthymia (claimed as depression and anxiety) is also found not to contain clear and unmistakable error.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have PTSD and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further development and adjudication of claims related to his schizophrenia rating, including a claim of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in prior rating decisions.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim. For the initial evaluation of cystic swelling and disfigurement of the back of the occipital region, status post head trauma, prior to August 30, 2002, the Board found that there is no evidence showing a relationship between the current condition and service. From August 30, 2002, the Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, finding no current diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-IV criteria and insufficient evidence linking any diagnosed condition to service.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (variously identified as schizophrenia and depression) due to the Veteran's service-connected acne keloids.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that it is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected post-traumatic headaches.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic back disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.