Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to unclear service connection and pension issues, including a need for additional medical evaluations.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder. The claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and left knee disability are addressed in the remand following this order.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death from doxepin and alcohol intoxication was likely caused by his service-connected schizophrenia with related chronic alcohol abuse/dependence, granting service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are granted, with some issues receiving a 10% evaluation and others not. The decision is based on direct evidence of in-service injury and subsequent disability.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a diagnosed neuropsychiatric disorder related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that schizophrenia was not shown in service and there is no evidence of a nexus to service. The veteran's low back disorder claim is remanded as it lacks current medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development under the VCAA, including notification and potential examination to determine if a current acquired psychiatric disorder is related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional procedural development, including obtaining service personnel/administrative records and medical records from various sources. The claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a back disorder with associated lower extremity weakness, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for the psychiatric disorder and concluding that there is no relationship between the current back and lower extremity disorders and service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including paranoid schizophrenia, is related to his military service and grants this claim.

The Board granted service connection for undifferentiated schizophrenia secondary to the service-connected left eye disability, effective from February 18, 2000.

The veteran's paranoid schizophrenia is productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence to support a finding of retinal tears in the left eye, and thus service connection for this condition cannot be granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia, finding that new and material evidence had been submitted but denying the claim.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, effective April 10, 2002. The veteran previously had a claim denied in 1954 for schizophrenia but did not appeal this decision. In 2002, he submitted a new claim for PTSD and was granted service connection with an effective date of April 10, 2002.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical history and a need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VCAA notifications and a need for further evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining a correct mailing address for the veteran and seeking additional medical records. The appeal will be considered again after these steps are completed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and malaria, finding no evidence of a current disability or in-service stressor. The claim for malaria was also not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining information about his exposure to noise during service and arranging for a psychiatric examination.