Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions, particularly concerning his alleged injuries and surgeries during active duty.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for coronary artery disease was denied as there was no new and material evidence received.,The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity vascular disease was denied as there was no new and material evidence received.,The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability (depression and generalized anxiety disorder) was granted due to the submission of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and is granted. Service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, tinnitus, right shoulder disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, left hip disability, right tibial periostitis, and left tibial periostitis are denied.

The Board has decided that further development is necessary before the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, can be properly adjudicated.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and determinations regarding his service-connected conditions, including onychomycosis and an acquired psychiatric disorder.,The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hammer toes require a new VA examination to assess their current severity.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. A VA examination is needed to determine if any diagnosed conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further medical opinions regarding the etiology of various disabilities, including cardiac disability, shoulder and ankle disabilities, hearing loss, tinnitus, kidney disability, peripheral neuropathy, and psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD).

The Veteran's claim for a separate rating of 20 percent for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is granted. The claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for low back disability, and claims for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for painful residual scars and nonpainful residual scars are denied. The Veteran's claim for a separate rating of 40 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is granted. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is denied. The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence, particularly regarding the Appellant's periods of active duty and inactive duty training (IDT) service. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, COPD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new evidence. The cases are remanded for further development including VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for hemorrhoids was denied, and the Board found that the criteria for a compensable rating were not met. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder) is remanded due to lack of verification of stressors but also indicates possible secondary etiology.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with previous remand directives and the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying a reported stressor.

The Board has granted the Veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection for a back disability and a psychiatric disability, including depression. The reopened claims are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient information provided by his private physician regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities. The examination must address whether any current disability is related to active service, including physical training and injuries sustained during service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted at a 50% rating prior to September 15, 2015. The claim for increased rating of the left shoulder disability and service connection for neck disability (secondary to left shoulder disability) are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence being added by VA and the Veteran's representative requesting additional records. The claims will be reviewed again based on all available evidence.

The Board has dismissed the appeals due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verification of service dates and obtaining treatment records. The claims will be readjudicated after the additional development.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, during the Veteran's lifetime and finds that dementia was not related to service. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The claims for migraine headaches, head injury, and diabetes mellitus were denied. The claim of PTSD was recharacterized as an acquired psychiatric disability but remains denied.