Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an opinion from a VA psychiatrist.

The Board found that the veteran's current psychiatric disorder is not service-connected, as there was no evidence of a disease or injury in service and no aggravation thereof. The diagnosis during service was a personality disorder, which is not considered a disease for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, tremors of either hands, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his right leg disability and service connection for a psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development under VCAA.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a significant change in VA law and because of the need for an adequate decision on service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back disability and PTSD are related to service, warranting a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) and memory loss, finding that there was insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Board found that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability. The veteran's previous denial of this claim is considered final, and no further action can be taken on this issue without new and material evidence.

The veteran's claim for automobile allowance and/or adaptive equipment was denied because his only service-connected disability, schizophrenia, does not meet the criteria for eligibility.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for schizophrenia, thus allowing the veteran's appeal.

The Board found that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, did not exist prior to service and was not aggravated by service. The evidence showed no credible in-service stressor and no medical link between current symptoms and service.

The veteran's service-connected schizophrenia is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's schizophrenia may have first manifested during service or within one year of separation, but further development is needed to confirm this. The RO must obtain records from Social Security Administration and Rhode Island Mental Health Center regarding the veteran's treatment for schizophrenia in 1971-1972.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA). The case will be returned to the RO for further development and readjudication.

The May 3, 1989 rating decision denying service connection for a psychiatric disorder is found to contain clear and unmistakable error. The veteran's claim was reopened in February 2000, leading to the grant of service connection for bipolar disorder effective from August 1, 1988.

The Board has determined that the reduction of a 50 percent rating for service-connected schizophrenia was proper, and denied entitlement to an increased rating for schizophrenia. The case is being remanded due to deficiencies in informing the veteran of what evidence he needs to provide.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for additional development due to the need for examinations and the retrieval of Social Security Administration records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, but acknowledges that there may be other issues related to this case.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia, chloracne due to Agent Orange exposure, and porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) due to Agent Orange exposure. The veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was remanded.

The Board found that the June 1990 rating decision denying service connection for a psychiatric disorder was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, as there were no facts before the RO at the time of the decision or incorrect application of law.