Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has determined that the reduction in the rating for the veteran's psychiatric disability from 50 to 10 percent was proper. Since October 24, 2002, his condition is rated at 50 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed paranoid schizophrenia is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found insufficient evidence to support a diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the veteran's lifetime. The claim for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied as there is no competent, objective evidence of such conditions during or after his military service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current psychiatric disability, to include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), related to military service. The veteran's claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Board denied service connection for chronic low back disorder and chronic psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, as well as increased disability evaluations for the veteran's right and left thigh gunshot wound residuals. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or current disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for seborrheic dermatitis and assigned a noncompensable evaluation. The veteran was also granted earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for low back strain, right foot plantar fasciitis with ankle pain, seborrheic dermatitis, right shoulder arthritis, left shoulder arthritis, and ischemic heart disease with hypertension.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease, psychiatric disorder, and seizure disorder. The evidence did not establish a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board determined that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, but ultimately concluded that there is no evidence linking any current acquired psychiatric disability to service.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability or any link to service, including exposure to herbicides. The Board found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as schizophrenia, finding that there was no evidence linking his current diagnosis of chronic undifferentiated schizophrenia to his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional records and examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disorder(s).

The Board has determined that an effective date of April 30, 1984, is warranted for the award of service connection for the veteran's paranoid-type schizophrenia.

The veteran's schizophrenia is the only service-connected condition, and he does not require regular aid and attendance or be substantially confined to his house due to this disability. Therefore, special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate is denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a hearing. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral eye disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as bipolar disorder. The Board found no evidence of chronic conditions in service or post-service that could be linked to military service.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected schizophrenia did not contribute substantially or materially to his death from Staphylococcus aureus sepsis. The medical evidence does not support a direct causal relationship between the veteran's schizophrenia and his cause of death.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for psychiatric disability due to the submission of new and material evidence, including additional service medical records. The case is now remanded for further adjudication.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder with psychotic features and an anxiety disorder not otherwise specified, is proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability (left knee residuals), and his degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine was aggravated by his service-connected left ankle sprain. Both conditions are therefore granted.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current schizophrenia and his period of active service, leading to a denial of service connection.