Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD. The case is REMANDED for a VA examination and further development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected schizophrenia and PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and an updated examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart disability, diabetes mellitus, and psychiatric disability due to secondary service connection. The rating for hypertension prior to June 9, 2014, and renal disease with hypertension as of June 9, 2014, is also being remanded. Additionally, the TDIU claim is being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's discharge was not due to willful misconduct, and thus his period of service is honorable. The claims for service connection are being remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his low back disability has been denied. The Board has also remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral radiculopathy and psychiatric disability, as well as TDIU due to the complexity of these issues.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right shoulder disability was granted. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's diagnosis is related to military sexual trauma. The claim was reopened due to new and material evidence submitted since the previous denial in July 2003.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disability and a cervical spine disability. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability was denied because new evidence did not establish a nexus between the condition and active duty service. The claim for a cervical spine disability was also denied as there is no credible evidence of an in-service injury that could be linked to the current disability.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and has remanded the issues of service connection for chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a headache disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran must undergo further examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. The decision finds that the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's period of service from November 3, 1965 to April 24, 1970 is considered a bar due to his AWOL for over 180 days.,Claims for service connection were denied for various conditions including low back disability, ischemic heart disease, urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than schizophrenia, including depressive disorder NOS and as secondary to service-connected schizophrenia, needs further examination. The examiner is requested to provide opinions on whether the Veteran’s depressive disorder NOS is related to service, if it was aggravated by his service-connected schizophrenia, and if any current acquired psychiatric disability (other than schizophrenia) represents aggravation of a superimposed disease upon a developmental personality disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizoaffective disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms during service are consistent with his current diagnosis.

The Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is granted due to the evidence showing she experienced traumatic events during her military service, which resulted in her current condition.

The Veteran's thyroid cancer is granted service connection as it manifested within one year of his separation from active duty. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD, remains denied due to insufficient evidence meeting the diagnostic standards set by the DSM-IV or DSM-V.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the Veteran's incarceration and unavailability of records. The case will be reviewed after obtaining necessary medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have all been denied.,Specifically, the Board found that there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability or tinnitus meeting VA criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left knee disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, and an acquired psychiatric condition. The decision found that new evidence did not reopen the claim for a left knee disability, and that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance and/or housebound status due to a psychiatric disorder. The claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the current acquired psychiatric disorders were onset in service or caused/aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability and remanded it for further development. The psychiatric disability (major depressive disorder) claim is also being remanded, but the hypertension rating claim remains pending.