Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected.,Bilateral hearing loss disability is denied as not service-connected.,Right and left knee disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion.,Acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, panic disorder, and agoraphobia) is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a forehead laceration, residuals of a right ulnar nerve laceration, and an acquired psychiatric disability due to incomplete information regarding his duty status during October 1966.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, is granted with an effective date of January 29, 1972.,Left knee instability and right knee instability are granted with an effective date of January 29, 1972. Left knee loss of extension is also granted with the same effective date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder was reopened due to the receipt of relevant official service department records. However, the evidence does not show a nexus between his current psychiatric condition and his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for right hip, left hip, and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities have been denied. The effective date of service connection is fixed at the date of receipt of claim.,The Veteran's sleep apnea and hypertension disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for further examination. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with new information and an updated opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for new VA examinations to assess the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his employability.

The appeal to reopen a claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The entitlement to service connection for the same condition is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder with PTSD, anxiety, and depression is denied. The earliest possible effective date is February 1, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a stomach disability, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression), and COPD have all been denied. The denial is based on the lack of evidence supporting these conditions during his military service or due to exposure to asbestos.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a supplemental opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is at least as likely as not related to service-connected disabilities, including his hypertension and psychiatric conditions.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a back disability, and a bilateral eye disability due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to service. The appeals are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right index finger disability is rated as 10% for the entire appeal period. A separate rating of 10% is granted for right hand manifestations associated with the right index finger disability. The Board finds that a VA examination is necessary to address service connection for PTSD and left index finger disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to mercury from dental fillings and its relationship to his current symptoms. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical records, including CT scans, and a VA examination will be conducted to determine if there are any residuals of mercury poisoning related to service.

The Board denied service connection for headaches and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, depression, and lack of sleep) as the evidence did not establish a relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating due to incomplete records and need for further medical examinations.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is found to be related to his active duty service. The claim for hearing loss is remanded as it requires further examination.

The Veteran's endometriosis and acquired psychiatric disorders were denied increased ratings.,An effective date prior to February 13, 2015, for the increased rating of MDD, GAD, and PTSD was also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination and missing medical records, particularly from VA clinics in San Antonio and McAllen. The Veteran's psychiatric conditions need to be re-evaluated by a VA psychiatrist or psychologist.