Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's sleep apnea, hypertension, acid reflux, and erectile dysfunction were not found to have begun during service or be related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety) was also not found to have begun during service or be related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's unemployability due to service-connected disabilities began on November 11, 2009. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a right hip disability are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The claim for service connection of PTSD is reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, the in-service stressor needs to be verified as the Veteran served during a period involving fear of hostile military or terrorist activity.

The Veteran's service-connected ADHD is granted, and the cases of bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than ADHD are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.,The Veteran's testicle condition claim is denied as he does not have a present diagnosis and the preponderance of the evidence does not support an etiological link to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability was reopened, as new evidence showed the condition may be related to service. Service connection is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was also reopened and granted.

The Board found that the evidence did not establish clear and unmistakable error in granting service connection for schizophrenia, thus denying the request to sever the award.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus due to a lack of evidence showing the disability was incurred in or aggravated by service, including consideration of delayed-onset tinnitus.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as major depressive disorder, is also denied because there is no credible evidence linking it to service-connected eczema.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that the Veteran's neurocognitive disorder is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a nervous condition was reopened due to new and material evidence. The appeal is granted in part, as the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus was denied, but the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder and sleep apnea were reopened. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted, while service connection for both tinnitus and sleep apnea remains denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and acquired psychiatric disorder are denied as not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, back disorder, right foot disorder, sleep disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran was scheduled to appear at a hearing but failed to show up without good cause.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for major depressive disorder, bilateral hearing loss, headaches (secondary to sleep apnea), an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder and anxiety) secondary to service-connected disabilities, a higher rating for sleep apnea, and a compensable rating for postoperative ventral hernia. The Veteran's claim for reopening of the previously denied claim of service connection for major depressive disorder has been granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for OSA and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset during active duty or any period of ACDUTRA. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his OSA, and another addendum opinion from the January 2015 VA examiner is needed for his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for his TDIU and CUE, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the April 1999 rating decision.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include major depressive disorder), but denied both on the merits.,For PTSD, the claim was denied because there is no credible supporting evidence of a verified in-service stressor.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression) and residuals of Bell's palsy (secondary to an acquired psychiatric disability).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder and a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current psychiatric disorder to service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for reopening the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. As a result, the Board dismissed this issue.