Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current disability and thus, it could not be service connected.,For PTSD, the Veteran is granted an initial rating of 70 percent effective December 18, 2009 to January 9, 2012, based on symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss, and inability to establish effective relationships. The claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for arthritis and heart condition, as well as reopening of claims for gastrointestinal disorder and PTSD. The VA is required to obtain SSA records, VA treatment records, workers' compensation records, and psychiatric examination records.

The Board denied service connection for low back and bilateral knee disorders, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder (polysubstance abuse) and a left hip disorder. The claims were based on direct evidence of the conditions in question.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, as new evidence was received post-decision. The claims are to be reviewed de novo with additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for a DRO hearing.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder with depression), and alcohol and cannabis disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Board has reopened the previously denied service connection claims for gastrointestinal disorder, testicular disorder, and psychiatric disorder (other than service-connected insomnia disorder). The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and an increased rating for hearing loss. Additional development is required due to outstanding SSA records.

The Board has remanded several claims including service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, headaches, left lower extremity neuropathy, a sciatic nerve condition of the right leg, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to outstanding SSA records.

The Board has remanded three issues: service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD, a compensable initial rating for left varicocele, and TDIU. The Veteran's request for a personal hearing on the PTSD issue is noted.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that any currently diagnosed psychiatric disorders are etiologically related to active duty service.

The Veteran's heart disability (including coronary artery disease), hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disorder are granted as presumptively related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied because the new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 60 percent for service-connected coronary artery disease and total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The remaining issues have been reopened, but further evidence is needed to determine if service connection can be granted.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for nummular eczematous dermatitis, right and left hip disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not show that his conditions warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for a nervous condition was granted. Service connection for IVDS with lumbar DDD and a surgical scar, left lower quadrant were also granted. The Veteran's claim for somnambulism (sleep disorder) is remanded.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to his in-service hazardous noise exposure. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and insomnia due to lack of new and material evidence.