Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's right arm disorder is not service-connected as it was not caused by any incident during his military service.,The issues of left ear hearing loss and right ear hearing loss are dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing them on the record at his April 2017 Board hearing.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right ear hearing loss, cytologic atypia, thyroid condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and panic disorder), and fibrocystic breast condition. The VA examinations are needed to determine the current severity of her bilateral hearing loss, TBI, ventricular premature complexes, and the nature and etiology of her cytologic atypia, thyroid condition, acquired psychiatric disorder, and fibrocystic breast condition.

The Veteran's IBS has been granted a 30 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is referred to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a low back disability, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new evidence received since the last final denial. The claim for service connection for a heart disability is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss are not related to his active service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is found to be related to his service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including recurrent headaches, hearing loss, tinnitus, low back pain, knee problems, PTSD, hypertension, heart issues, pulmonary conditions, vision problems, and fatigue. The VA is instructed to obtain all relevant medical records and conduct examinations to determine if these disabilities are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was not shown to be related to service and is denied.

The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disability (including depression and PTSD), left foot disability, and hypertension have been denied as there is no evidence of such conditions in service or secondary to a service-connected condition.,Service connection cannot be granted because the Veteran has not provided any specific allegations regarding these disabilities. There are also no complaints, treatment records, or diagnoses related to these conditions during service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims and remanded them for further development.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The issues of service connection for residuals of a laceration of the scalp and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) are no longer before the Board as they have become moot.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral keratoconus, skin disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder were denied. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for cervical strain was also denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, are granted as secondary to her service-connected back disability. The rating for her lumbar spine disability remains at 20 percent.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the issues of service connection for headaches and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD). Specifically, outstanding treatment records must be obtained and examinations are needed to address the etiology of these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and a psychiatric disorder due to outstanding VA treatment records that need to be obtained.

The Veteran's claims for compensation for hepatitis B, liver damage as secondary to hepatitis B, and a psychiatric disorder as secondary to hepatitis B have been denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of additional disability resulting from the March 2004 colonoscopy at VA, thus denying compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for hepatitis B.

The Veteran's previously denied claims for left knee pain, bilateral hearing loss, back disability, skin lesions, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disability due to the need for additional evidence, including VA medical records and mental health treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left knee disability, a left shoulder disability, a low back disability, and radiculopathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities as there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether a psychiatric disability incurred in service contributed to cause or aggravate the Veteran's death.