Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD was denied. The secondary service connection claim for depression due to service-connected scars from breast reduction surgery was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for a gastric disorder and psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period or were otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The appeal for service connection of hemorrhoids, heart condition, sinusitis, and urethritis is dismissed. The appeals to reopen claims for low back injury, neurological damage due to a back injury, residuals of head injury, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, depression, anxiety) are granted.

The Veteran's facial scars have been rated as noncompensable due to the absence of characteristics of disfigurement or pain. The Board has found that the preponderance of evidence does not support a higher rating.,Several service connection claims for various disabilities are being remanded, including cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, left hip disability, sleep disorder (including sleep apnea), GERD, erectile dysfunction, headaches, neurological disabilities of the buttocks and lower extremities, chronic pain, and acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia, but denied service connection for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss. The decision is based on the evidence of record showing a current diagnosis of schizophrenia within one year of discharge from service.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection claims, rating determinations, and a TDIU claim due to inconsistencies in the evidence and need for further development.

The Board has denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for lumbar spinal stenosis with radiculopathy due to the August 2014 VA spine surgery, but has remanded cases regarding service connection for acquired psychiatric disability and residuals of eye surgery.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation regarding his claimed psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and depression. Additionally, he needs a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected dermatitis/eczema.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, particularly those related to service connection.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's tinnitus and acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) are related to service. The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with paranoid schizophrenia, has been reopened. However, the evidence does not meet the criteria for service connection as his current diagnosis of unspecified schizophrenia is not related to service or any in-service stressor. The claim for secondary service connection for hypertension was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of evidence meeting VA's definition of impaired hearing. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability other than MDD, claimed as PTSD, was reopened based on new and material evidence showing potential PTSD symptoms.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for muscle spasms, heart disability, erectile dysfunction, prostate cancer, hernia, ulcers and an acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD and depression. The claims are remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various spinal, nerve, joint, and psychiatric disabilities have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn his appeal of these issues. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded due to new evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertensive cardiovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral lower extremities, schizophrenia with anxiety, and TDIU due to incomplete STRs and outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been reopened, but the issues are being remanded due to missing medical records and need for further examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 30 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder including panic disorder without agoraphobia and for TDIU due to service-connected disability. Additional development is needed, including obtaining records from any additional treatment providers, providing appropriate notice and assistance for the TDIU claim, and scheduling the Veteran for an examination by an appropriate clinician.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for left knee disability, left shin splint disability, and acquired psychiatric disability (secondary to a claimed left knee disability). The TDIU claim is also remanded.