Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a back condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran needs VA examinations to determine if he has these conditions and whether they are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety disorder NOS and depressive disorder NOS has been reopened, and the Board is granting this aspect of his appeal. The appeals for bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorders (including as secondary to tinnitus), and sleep disorder are being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PVD of the lower extremities, coronary artery disease, kidney disability, and psychiatric disorder is remanded due to new evidence received since the last final denial. The claims are being reopened as they include a current diagnosis of the conditions in question.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a head injury and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, right ankle strain, and bilateral pes planus due to new evidence. The service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for Major Depressive Disorder, an acquired psychiatric condition (PTSD, MDD, Anxiety, Unspecified Trauma and Stressor Related Disorder), and alcoholism have been reopened. The Board has determined that there is new and material evidence to support these claims and grants them.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and lack of evaluation as directed in the March 2013 remand. The issues are now pending for further review.

The Veteran's urinary disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected left testicle removal. The effective date for this grant is July 14, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as PTSD due to military sexual trauma is denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that her current diagnosis of PTSD is related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient records and needs to obtain additional information from the Veteran's service personnel.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia and depression, is related to his military service.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae was granted service connection. The issues of secondary service connection for lumbar spine disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disorders, including a back disorder, left knee disorders, right knee disorders, left ankle disorders, and left elbow disorders. The decision also includes an issue regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The reasons for the remand include the need to verify periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty training (INACDUTRA), provide a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of the claimed conditions, and determine if any are related to the September 1987 motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected schizophrenia disorder, and there is no evidence linking the cause of death to any incident during active duty. Therefore, the claims for dependency and indemnity compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 and service connection for the cause of death are denied.

Service connection is denied for bilateral pes planus, chronic rhinitis, an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely depression and anxiety), and insomnia. The Veteran's claims are not supported by clear and unmistakable evidence that these conditions existed prior to service or were aggravated by service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders, including major depression. The evidence does not establish a link between these conditions and his active military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and for PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The claim for coronary artery disease and hypertension was denied as there is insufficient evidence to associate these conditions with service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a compensable disability rating for dermatophytosis. The Veteran's claims will be further evaluated with additional medical examinations and verification of stressors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability (torticollis) was previously denied in July 1971, and new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim.,Service connection for hyperlipidemia is not warranted as it does not constitute a recognized disability for VA purposes.