Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen any of the veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, all claimed as due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder will be reconsidered based on all pertinent evidence.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for schizophrenia, undifferentiated type and determined that the veteran meets the criteria for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability.

The Board found that the veteran's hearing loss and psychiatric condition were not incurred in service, as there was no evidence of a current disability related to service. The PTSD claim was also denied due to lack of verified stressors.

The Board found that the evidence clearly and unmistakably demonstrated a pre-existing psychiatric disability prior to service, which was not aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder is not related to his military service and denied both his claims for service connection and increased rating.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder and a chronic gastrointestinal disability, finding that the veteran's conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected PTSD results in total social and industrial impairment, warranting a 100 percent disability rating.

The VA determined that the veteran's paranoid schizophrenia does not warrant a higher rating based on current symptoms and overall impairment.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD. A VA medical opinion is needed to determine if his passive dependent personality in April 1966 was an initial manifestation of any currently diagnosed psychiatric disorder, including residual type schizophrenia.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (Bipolar Disorder) and a higher initial rating for degenerative joint disease of the left knee.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, valvular heart disease, and a psychiatric disability on the grounds that there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder began during his active service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and assigned a 10 percent rating effective from March 2, 2005. The veteran's left knee instability and arthritis are rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations. Hemorrhoids have been rated as non-compensable.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected schizophrenia, chronic paranoid type. The effective date remains October 1, 1996.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient steps taken by the RO to comply with the VCAA and implementing regulations, including providing proper VCAA notice. The veteran is required to provide new and material evidence to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the effective date for service connection of chronic paranoid schizophrenia is February 13, 2001.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for schizophrenia and for entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The veteran's schizophrenia is currently rated as 50 percent disabling.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including psychiatric, left ankle, left foot, right foot, low back, and neck conditions. The claim of service connection for a hernia was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence, while the claim of service connection for hypertension was reopened based on new evidence showing current hypertension in active military service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to the need for further development and examination, including a VA psychiatric examination. The issues of service connection for tinnitus, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, an eye disorder, and a back disorder are being addressed.