Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran's undifferentiated type schizophrenia warranted a 50 percent evaluation, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition. The claim for total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was also denied as there were no exceptional circumstances shown by the evidence indicating that the veteran’s service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board decision from which he appealed is also vacated.

The Board has remanded the case due to actions taken by the appellant regarding his military discharge, including filing a claim with the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR). The appeal is pending while this matter is resolved.

The Board is remanding the case due to procedural issues, including a need to address whether there was clear and unmistakable error in prior rating decisions denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim of reopening the claim will be considered after this issue is resolved.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings of his left and right leg disabilities were denied, but he was granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder (schizophrenia).

The Board agrees that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and thus the claim is well grounded. The issue will be remanded for further development.

The Board found that the veteran's current psychiatric condition is related to his active service and granted his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and schizophrenia, finding that new evidence supports a diagnosis of these conditions. The Board also found that there is sufficient evidence to link his current psychiatric symptoms to his military service in Vietnam.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100% rating for schizophrenia is denied. The earliest date on which it was factually ascertainable that there was an increase in the veteran's psychiatric symptomatology warranting the increased rating awarded by the RO is December 15, 1989.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of smallpox, finding that there is no competent medical evidence relating the scars on the index fingers and the dorsum of the left hand to the inservice smallpox.

The Board denied service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and a chronic, acquired psychiatric disorder. The veteran's claims were not well-grounded as there was no competent medical evidence of these conditions.

The Board has granted a 100 percent rating for the service-connected schizophrenic disorder, residual type, with depression. The veteran's service-connected residuals of shrapnel wounds left knee are rated at 10 percent.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for further consideration, including considering new evidence submitted by the veteran's attorney.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, as new and material evidence has been submitted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and a psychiatric disorder, as well as his requests for higher ratings for right and left knee disorders.

The Board denied service connection for upper gastrointestinal condition, neck disability, psychiatric disorder, and liver condition (hepatitis) due to lack of competent medical evidence of current disabilities.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the appellant's current psychiatric disorder to her military service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Board denied both claims: service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and the claim that the gunshot wound to the stomach was due to willful misconduct.

The Board denied the petition to reopen a claim for service connection for an acquired neuropsychiatric disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to November 12, 1996, for a 100 percent disability evaluation for schizophrenic reaction with anxiety is denied.