Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and PTSD. The preponderance of the evidence does not establish a link between the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee strain, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, due to service-connected lumbar strain, cervical strain, and posttraumatic tension-type headache and cervicogenic pain. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection for joint/muscle pain to include arthritis and acquired psychiatric disorder including depression have been remanded due to the need for VA examinations and the need to obtain SSA records.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted, while his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and major depression) is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and missing records. The claims will be reviewed again with additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, acquired psychiatric disorder, and traumatic brain injury was granted. The effective date of the grant is June 4, 2018.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for a bilateral knee condition, back condition, and headaches. The claim for right ear hearing loss is denied as there is no current evidence of hearing loss meeting VA criteria. The claim for left ear hearing loss remains noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin condition, tremors, and an acquired psychiatric condition including PTSD, depression, and anxiety due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The issues are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease and prostate cancer are granted as they are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure. The claim for secondary service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, were not shown to be related to service. The Board found that the current disabilities did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a right elbow disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service electrocution injuries. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted in some cases, but denied on the merits. The decisions are mixed as to whether certain conditions are related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) and increased rating for tinea versicolor and pseudofolliculitis barbae. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and diabetes mellitus were denied. The Veteran's current rating for diabetes mellitus is 20 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for headaches is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not show characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one a month over several months, which would warrant a 30 percent rating. The Veteran’s claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability including PTSD is remanded due to insufficient information and need for further examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder due to new evidence. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and for bilateral hearing loss are remanded as additional medical opinions are needed. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and gastrointestinal disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia. The case is remanded for additional development related to the left knee disability and TDIU.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability, bilateral hearing loss, and obstructive sleep apnea are not service-connected.,Service connection for a psychiatric disability (depression) secondary to lumbar spine disability is remanded. The Veteran currently meets the schedular requirements for a TDIU.