Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The issues include PTSD, depression, a respiratory disorder, TBI with insomnia and memory loss, lumbar strain/sprain, cervical DDD, and migraine headaches.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right finger disability, cervical spine disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, heart disability (to include coronary artery disease), hypertension, high cholesterol, melanoma, diabetes mellitus, headaches, and acquired psychiatric disability (to include anxiety).

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including a major cognitive disorder, is granted service connection as it is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim for stroke (now claimed as thrombosis of blood vessels of the brain) to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus is denied.

The Veteran's combined disabilities do not meet the statutory minimum to qualify for a schedular TDIU. The issue of entitlement to an extraschedular TDIU is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder with alcohol dependence, to include depression and anxiety disorder is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder with psychotic feature, is granted as secondary to his service-connected migraine headache disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to potential exposure to ionizing radiation in service, and for additional development of his medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability has been denied. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder, is remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD), PTSD, and tinnitus have been granted. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) is based on secondary service connection to a service-connected condition. The claim for PTSD was reopened due to new evidence provided by the Veteran. Tinnitus has not been linked to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder existed prior to service and if it was aggravated by service. The Veteran will need a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the Veteran to undergo VA examinations and for additional development in connection with his claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, cataracts, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, stroke residuals, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, depression, anxiety).

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his bilateral hip disabilities and back disability, as well as service connection for sleep apnea, are being remanded.,The Veteran’s psychiatric disability is rated at 50 percent prior to March 2, 2017 but not higher than that during the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased evaluation of rhinitis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under Diagnostic Code 6522.,The claim to reopen service connection for a low back disorder was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,The claim to reopen service connection for a right knee disorder was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,The claim to reopen service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, secondary to rhinitis, was granted. The Board found that the evidence raised a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,The claim to reopen service connection for a neck disorder was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded several claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the claim remains denied.

The appeal for service connection of ruptured discs of the lower back has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew from appeal. The claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded.

The Veteran's skin condition is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his military service. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, is also remanded for an additional VA examination to clarify the nature and etiology of the disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for all issues related to service connection, including insomnia, nerve damage, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. As a result, the Board dismissed these claims.

The Veteran's schizophrenia was not caused by or related to his military service, and the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board granted service connection for a psychiatric disability and assigned a 100 percent rating, effective February 27, 2006. The Veteran is entitled to attorney's fees from past-due benefits arising out of the February 2016 rating decision that effectuated this decision.