Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has granted a 70 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected paranoid schizophrenia, effective from the date of the decision. The veteran's condition is characterized by significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's schizophrenia had its onset during his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's schizophrenia, rated at 50 percent prior to November 7, 1996, and at 70 percent thereafter, is granted. Additionally, the veteran is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia and granted it. The veteran is also granted a 10 percent disability rating for this condition, effective from his date of discharge from active duty.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, to include as secondary to his service-connected bilateral flat feet was dismissed due to the lack of a timely filed Substantive Appeal. The Board lacks jurisdiction over this issue.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and further development is required, including obtaining records from various sources.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric disability (to include post-traumatic stress disorder), finding that there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other conditions warranting presumptive service connection. The diagnoses were not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for further development and examination, as they involve undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability.

The Board is considering whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection of schizophrenia. The issue is pending as some elements are found insufficient in the previous denial.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a mental disorder (including depression), and bilateral knee disorders. The claim for service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder is also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including rheumatic fever with heart murmur, ear disability, a left knee disorder, back disorder, shortened right leg, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and lower extremity neuropathy. The decision found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and there is no medical evidence or opinion suggesting a nexus between any diagnosed psychiatric disability (other than PTSD) and service. Therefore, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD cannot be established.

The Board has determined that the issues are more accurately characterized as claims for service connection for a back injury, 'depression (previously claimed as dysthymia)', PTSD, and a right knee/leg injury. The case is REMANDED to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC.

The Board found that the veteran's current psychiatric disability and bilateral hearing loss are not attributable to his active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for schizophrenia, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration records.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The initial compensable evaluation for rhinitis was not granted, and the claim for an increased evaluation for sinusitis with headaches remains at a 30 percent rating.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for migraine headaches was granted. However, service connection for residuals of an ear infection (perforated tympanic membranes), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disorder were all denied.

The Board found that the veteran's bipolar disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.