Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's paranoid schizophrenia warrants a 70 percent rating since November 1, 2003, based on significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and need for medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, a heart disorder to include coronary artery disease and ischemic heart disease, migraine headaches, and a disability manifested by dizziness.,The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, thus denying the reopening of the claim.

The Veteran's schizophrenia has been rated at 50% since the initial grant of service connection, and no changes are being made to this rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as there is no evidence of record that corroborates the claimed inservice stressors. The effective date claim for an increased rating of diabetes mellitus, type II, is also denied due to lack of factual basis.

The Board found that the appellant was insane at the time of his offenses in service, which allowed him to be eligible for VA benefits despite his character of discharge.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and increased ratings for his shell fragment wounds, chronic otitis media and mastoiditis of the right ear, and hearing loss of the right ear were denied. The claim for service connection for a neuropsychiatric disorder (to exclude PTSD) was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the January 2002 RO decision is not new and material, and thus does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder that can be related to his period of service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for a videoconference hearing at the RO due to the Veteran's request.

The Board found that the appellant did not have a diagnosed mental condition, including PTSD. The claims for sexual dysfunction and gastrointestinal conditions were denied as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or relationship to service. The claim for acid reflux was also denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service. The back condition and tinnitus claims were similarly denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's treatment at St. Mary's Hospital from November 16 to November 19, 2006 met the criteria for VA payment and granted this claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, and macromastia are not related to service. The claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting psychiatric disorder existed prior to service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, service connection for a psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as bipolar disorder, was incurred during his military service and is granted service connection.

The Board found no medical evidence or opinion linking the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability to his service, and denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's schizophrenia was rated at 30 percent prior to April 14, 2008, and increased to 50 percent disabling effective April 14, 2008.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an opinion regarding the etiology of dementia, which is currently diagnosed but not related to service. The Veteran's claim for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders remains under review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia and a right ankle disability, as well as her claim for TDIU. The denial of these claims is final.