Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The VA determined that the veteran's schizophrenia, paranoid type does not warrant a rating higher than 50 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of pneumonia, bronchitis, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, generalized degenerative joint disease, and cervical spine disability were denied. The veteran's claim for service connection for psychiatric disability was also denied as secondary to back disability.,The veteran withdrew his appeal on the issues of entitlement to service connection for residuals of pneumonia and bronchitis prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied the appellant's applications to reopen previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for schizophrenia, headaches, and PTSD. The evidence submitted was deemed insufficient to establish a medical nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear service information and a need for further examination. The veteran's psychiatric disorder is being reviewed again.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition, gastrointestinal disability (including peptic ulcer disease and irritable colon syndrome), and an acquired psychiatric disorder. However, the decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were denied.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to assess the veteran's mental state and whether he was capable of filing a timely appeal. The issue of reopening the service connection claim will be adjudicated again after the examination.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder and a low back disability, concluding that the veteran did not have a qualifying condition for VA benefits.

The Board found that the veteran's dental and psychiatric disorders are not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected seizure disorder. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for a seizure disorder prior to November 1, 1996, was denied as there is no evidence of at least one major seizure in a six-month period. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for a seizure disorder from November 1, 1996, was also denied due to the lack of sufficient additional disability. The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, facial rash, and right knee disability due to exposure in the Southwest Asia theatre during the Persian Gulf War. The appeals were decided as direct service connection cases.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for back disability, residuals of head injury, and psychiatric disability. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, diagnosed as dysthymic disorder and major depressive disorder, are not related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pre-existing PTSD was not aggravated by service, and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD did not develop during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's schizophrenia, a type of paranoid disorder, currently manifests as mild symptoms such as anxiety and memory loss. The current rating of 30 percent is appropriate given his overall functioning.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling examinations to assess his service-connected back disability and any psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's request for waiver of overpayment of disability compensation, finding that recovery would not result in undue hardship and was against equity and good conscience.

The Board is remanding the case to ensure that all VCAA notification requirements have been satisfied and for further development of the evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that his diagnosis of a personality disorder was not incurred or aggravated during military service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and awarded a compensable evaluation for external hemorrhoids.

The Board found that the veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD and denied service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and review, including obtaining employment medical records and arranging for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service.