Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C is remanded due to incomplete records and the need for an examination to secure a fully adequate opinion.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right lower extremity sciatica, left lower extremity sciatica, and his variously diagnosed psychiatric disability are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar strain is remanded due to the need for an examination to secure a fully adequate opinion.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes cavus and claw foot with hallux valgus of the great toe and first metatarsal hammertoes is remanded due to the need for an examination to secure a fully adequate opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has granted service connection for tinnitus as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The claim of service connection for a left shoulder disability is remanded, while other issues are also remanded.

All issues are remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, cardiovascular disease other than hypertension, left and right carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and a sleep disorder. The cases are remanded to obtain VA examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a left knee disorder have been reopened due to new evidence. However, service connection has not been granted for either condition.,Service connection was denied for the acquired psychiatric disorder as there is no evidence of a diagnosis in service or within one year after separation from service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and headaches, but dismissed the claim for digestive disorder. The acquired psychiatric disorder is found to be related to service, while the headaches are found to be secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for low back disability is granted.,Service connection for sleep disorder, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are all denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that his current condition did not have onset during active service or within one year of discharge and is not otherwise related to active service.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant before a decision was made.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to issues with scheduling VA examinations.

The appeals for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and paranoid schizophrenia have been dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and further development is needed.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for TDIU is remanded due to the need for extraschedular consideration. The Board cannot make a finding in the first instance and refers the matter to the Director, Compensation Service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence. The appellant's STRs and records from his periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA need to be verified.

The Veteran's brain tumor residuals are granted service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents during service. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder due to new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for a back disability, neck disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded as there is insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for traumatic brain injury, seizures as secondary to traumatic brain injury, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (variously diagnosed as alcohol abuse, anxiety, and depression, to include posttraumatic stress disorder) due to incomplete development of evidence and need for further medical examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a psychiatric examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for various disorders are not currently addressed as they have been remanded.

The Veteran's diabetic peripheral neuropathy and PTSD have been granted initial ratings of 20 percent each, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and a psychiatric disorder due to potential associations with in-service conditions or exposures.