Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to the veteran's incarceration and changes in address, requiring a Travel Board hearing.

The November 1996 and October 2001 rating decisions denied the veteran's claims for service connection, new and material evidence to reopen his claims, and TDIU. The appeals were not successful.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for hallux valgus of the left foot and service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's son's claim for recognition as a 'helpless child' due to permanent incapacity for self-support prior to age 18, finding that he was not permanently incapable of self-support at age 18.

The veteran's claims for service connection and compensation have been denied. The left shoulder disorder claim has been reopened, but the evidence does not support a grant of service connection. Hypertension is not related to service, and there is no evidence that it was caused by VA care. The psychiatric and rectal disorders are also not related to service or VA care. Finally, the residuals of the fracture of the right 5th metacarpal do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The VA has denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 30 percent for schizophrenia, finding that the symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the etiology of any current psychiatric disorder and reviewing all pertinent Social Security Administration records.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The evidence received since the last denial supports a diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disability and establishes a link between such disability and service.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his paranoid type schizophrenia is being remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records and a comprehensive psychiatric examination.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia, undifferentiated type. However, the claims of service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease, a left leg disorder, and bilateral pes planus remain denied as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and Schizophrenia was denied as there is no medical evidence diagnosing PTSD, which is a required element for service connection under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, is due to a disease process that as likely as not was incurred during his period of active military service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a left knee disorder, finding no evidence of such conditions in service or to a compensable degree within the first post-service year.

The Board found that the veteran's current psychiatric condition did not have its onset during service or within one year after service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of additional evidence, including a VCAA notice addressing PTSD claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for tension headaches, finding that there is no credible evidence of very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks of headaches productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The veteran's left shoulder condition is rated at 10 percent, and his schizophrenia was rated at 30 percent between January 11, 1999, and December 1, 2003. The veteran's schizophrenia has been rated as 50 percent since December 2, 2003.,The veteran's claims for increased ratings were granted, with the left shoulder condition receiving a 10 percent rating and schizophrenia receiving a 50 percent rating from December 2, 2003 onwards. The veteran also received TDIU benefits between January 11, 1999, and December 1, 2003.

The Board found no current psychiatric disorder and concluded that any prior diagnosis was situational and unrelated to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board found that there is no medical evidence of a psychiatric disorder or chronic pain syndrome until approximately 19 years post-service, and thus denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right knee disability is rated as 30 percent disabling, with a separate 10 percent rating for arthritis. The dermatological disorder is rated as noncompensably disabling.