Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and latent schizophrenia as new and material evidence was not received to reopen these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed PTSD and stressors. The Veteran will need a new VA examination, verification of his claimed stressors, and access to all relevant medical records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination, and requests for additional records and a new opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), headaches, a right index finger partial amputation with neuropathy, and tinnitus due to incomplete development of evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors and exposure to herbicide agents. The eye disability claim is denied as there is no credible evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and the psychiatric disorder claims are denied because the reported stressor cannot be verified.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and treatment records. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim.

The Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected frostbite residuals and other conditions, including a psychiatric disorder and cyanosis. The Board finds that the Veteran had these conditions due to his period of active service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for an earlier effective date and a higher initial rating for service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, including depression.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for neuropsychiatric disorder, also claimed as schizoaffective disorder and nervous condition because there was no evidence showing a nexus between his current disability and service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy and PTSD, finding that new and material evidence supports these claims. The Board also granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD).

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of left shoulder strain, right knee sprain, and left ankle sprain due to insufficient information regarding the nature and etiology of the acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran is also asked to provide any additional private treatment records related to his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, a mood disorder, and depression) due to incomplete records and conflicting medical opinions. The claims are inextricably intertwined with each other.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, depression, and schizophrenia has been reopened. Service connection is granted for PTSD. Claims for secondary service connection for heart condition due to PTSD, hypercholesterolemia, brain trauma, arthritis of the hands, neck, back, and shoulders, and degenerative joint of the sacroiliac joint are also granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder condition, back condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease due to exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange. However, the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) is denied.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the lack of records from the Veteran's period of active service from January 1971 to December 1973. The VA must attempt to obtain these records and provide a formal finding if they cannot be obtained.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral foot disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, skin disorder involving the feet, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) due to new evidence received since the last denial of these claims.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding hypertension, migraines, short term memory loss, and a rating in excess of 30 percent for actinic keratosis. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) was granted with a 30% rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disability and its relationship to his service-connected conditions. The claim for service connection will be further evaluated after obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the April 2013 rating decision was not final and remanded the claims for further development. The Veteran's back disability claim is being remanded to obtain an addendum medical opinion, while his PTSD claim requires verification of reported stressors.