Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining his service medical records and considering all relevant evidence. The Veteran's current disabilities are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for schizophrenia was reopened, and he is now granted service connection for PTSD. The Board also found that his major depressive disorder, alcohol dependence, and schizophrenia are secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric and low back conditions, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for hemorrhoids and a psychiatric disorder. The remaining issues of service connection have been remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's headaches are not related to service, except for those already compensated by her fibromyalgia rating. The Veteran's GERD does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation based on persistent symptoms. Her fibromyalgia and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) appeals have been withdrawn.

The Board has denied service connection for an enlarged heart and remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability due to lack of evidence supporting the Veteran's reported stressors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's back condition.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development due to insufficient recent medical records and a need for a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for right shoulder disability and acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's right shoulder condition may be related to service, but a VA examination is needed to confirm this. For his psychiatric disorder, an additional examination is required as the current one did not consider all stressors reported by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and depression, bilateral tinnitus, excessive weight gain and obesity, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral pes planus, left index finger condition (not diagnosed), neck pain, lower back pain, COPD, dizziness, and chronic UTI and incontinence have been granted. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded in several instances due to insufficient evidence or need for further medical evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition was reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for the psychiatric disorder, as secondary to the low back disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a Gulf War examination to assess the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, Hepatitis B, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and a back disability due to the need for VA examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including shoulder, back, neck, hip, knee, foot, otosclerosis, tinnitus, heart, prostate, thyroid, diabetes, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and acquired psychiatric disorders. The reasons given are that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is rated at 50% for the entire appeal period. The skin disability, presumed due to herbicide exposure, remains unresolved and requires further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea but has remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a psychosis to establish eligibility for treatment under 38 U.S.C. § 1702.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction and a genitourinary condition, but has remanded the issues of service connection for a left shoulder condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder.