Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left and right wrist disorders, index finger injuries to the left hand and right hand, pterygium removal from the left eye, chest pains, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of a link between these conditions and service.,The Board found that the Veteran's current wrist pain is not related to his in-service injuries and that arthritis of the wrists is more likely due to aging rather than service.

The Veteran's tinnitus and hypertension were granted service connection. The left shoulder, right shoulder, cervical spine, sleep disability, cephalgia tension headaches (claimed as migraines), and acquired psychiatric disabilities were not granted service connection.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability, lung disability, back pain, hypertension, GERD, prostate cancer, and acquired psychiatric disorder are not service connected. The case is being remanded to obtain verification of herbicide exposure in Korea and to clarify the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim of CUE in a 1987 rating decision denying TDIU is being remanded due to the pending appeal for a higher initial rating for CAD, which could impact the TDIU issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for headaches, lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, erectile dysfunction, and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD and depressive disorder) require further examination and opinion to determine their etiology and service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened and is granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and erectile dysfunction are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions, including muscle pain due to an undiagnosed disorder, left Achilles sprain, chronic fatigue as due to undiagnosed illness, respiratory disorder, sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal symptoms, erectile dysfunction, neuropsychological symptoms, headaches, neurological condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and for a higher evaluation for meralgia paresthetica due to inadequate rationale in previous examinations and the need to verify in-service stressors.

Service connection is granted for residuals of cold injury to the bilateral lower extremities.,Service connection is denied for residuals of cold injury to the bilateral upper extremities.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, and gastrointestinal (GI) disorder due to incomplete or insufficient examination reports. The Veteran is requested to undergo new VA examinations using DSM-5 criteria.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for dysthymia has been reopened and granted. The appeals for the other conditions are still pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The evidence did not support a finding of a current disability or a link between any diagnosed condition and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's schizophrenia and his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's psychiatric disorder is found to be related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and needs further examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities had their onset during service or are related to in-service events.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to conflicting evidence regarding their onset.,Service connection is not granted for any of these conditions as there is insufficient evidence linking them to active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and re-adjudication due to a disagreement with an August 2017 decision that denied TDIU prior to January 15, 2014. The Veteran's psychiatric disability is expected to have rendered him unemployable prior to January 15, 2014.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the claimant did not provide credible supporting evidence for his claimed in-service stressors.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and determining the exact dates of his active duty. The claims for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right foot metatarsalgia, cervical spine disability, chronic myositis of the paracervical spine muscles, left shoulder disability, left arm disability, lumbar spine disability, chronic myositis of the paralumbar spine muscles, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded. The claim for acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) is also remanded.