Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2015

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and depression), migraine headaches, left hip disability, and left knee disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety. The Veteran's hepatitis C, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and pain in the right and left sides are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to his service-connected conditions or herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury. The pre-existing TBI is found to have been aggravated by active duty service, warranting service connection.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for neck, hip, and psychiatric disorders. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the stressor allegations and obtain VA treatment records.,The Veteran seeks service connection for left and right hip disorders. Additional development is required to confirm the alleged in-service stressors and obtain relevant medical records.,The Veteran seeks service connection for a right hip disorder. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the stressor allegations and obtain VA treatment records.,The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) and hypertension. Additional development is required to confirm the alleged in-service stressors, determine the etiology of any psychiatric disorders, and assess the relationship between hypertension and diabetes or a currently nonservice-connected psychiatric disability.,The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the secondary aspect of his claim and obtain VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA examination, and considering new evidence.

The Board denied accrued benefits claims for the Veteran's respiratory, seizure, cardiac, skin, eye, and psychiatric disorders due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for a seizure disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and anxiety), and muscle pain are being reviewed.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction, which is secondary to his service-connected schizophrenia, has been remanded due to inadequate examination and the need for an addendum opinion addressing both causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination, clarification of DRO hearing requests, and issuance of a statement of the case for the acne scars issue. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU are also inextricably intertwined with these preliminary matters.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining a stressor verification and an examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is service connected, as it resulted from an injury in service. The psychiatric disabilities and hypertension are also found to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a request from the Veteran for a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal concerning the issue of entitlement to service connection for loss of use of a creative organ has been withdrawn. The case is being remanded for further action on the issue of an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing VA treatment records and SSA disability benefits records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to outstanding VA and SSA records, which need to be obtained for proper adjudication of his service connection claim and TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee tendonitis based on limitation of motion back to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lung disability (COPD) is not service-connected due to a pre-existing condition, and his acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD or depressive disorder) is service-connected based on evidence of record.

The Veteran is granted service connection for a low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder. The left ankle disorder issue was not addressed as it does not appear the Veteran has a current disability.