Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia with an effective date of February 20, 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for increased rating of his left shoulder disability, finding that his schizophrenia is not related to service and did not cause any other psychiatric disorder. The Board also found that he does not have a current organic psychiatric disorder due to head injury.

The Board found that the veteran's current psychiatric disorder is not related to his service-connected low back disability, and thus denied his claim for secondary service connection.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, is being remanded due to the need for further development of her medical records and a medical opinion regarding the relationship between her current psychiatric condition and her military service.

The Board granted service connection for the veteran's urinary disorder and sexual impotence, but denied service connection for a psychiatric disability. The rating for bilateral hearing loss was increased to 10 percent prior to August 31, 2001, and to 30 percent on and subsequent to that date.

The June 1995 rating decision denying service connection for PTSD was not reopened due to the lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need to correct VCAA notice deficiencies.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to incomplete records and further development is needed.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, and anxiety disorder. The evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-IV criteria, nor was there sufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the veteran's current psychiatric disabilities and his military service.

The case is remanded to determine whether the veteran's need for aid and attendance due to his Schizophrenia alone, or in combination with other non-service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current psychiatric disability or left hip disability for which service connection may be granted, and thus denied both claims. The veteran's symptoms are associated with his service-connected low back disability.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied as his second period of service was terminated under dishonorable conditions, precluding compensation benefits. The appeal for a psychiatric disability related to the first period of service is also denied due to lack of evidence linking current symptoms to service.

The Board denied service connection for stomach, gallbladder, psychiatric, and headache disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding of current disability in any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including sending a VCAA letter to the veteran regarding service connection for a mental disorder and adjudicating the claims of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, and the claims for increased evaluations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development of the record, including obtaining records of psychiatric treatment prior to service and any evaluations during employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran is competent for VA benefit purposes based on consistent findings of competency from medical evaluations.

The Board found that the veteran's current psychiatric disability is related to in-service stressful events and reports of depression during service, thus granting his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and nonservice-connected pension due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between his current condition and military service.

The veteran's service-connected schizophrenia is characterized by occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks due to symptoms such as panic attacks, sleep impairment, and short-term memory problems. The current rating of 30 percent fully contemplates his impairment.

The Board dismissed the appeal as moot because a separate reconsideration decision granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which replaced the previous denial. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition remains denied.