Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The gastrointestinal and psychiatric disability claims are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (secondary to sinusitis) and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for a psychiatric disability and for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, as additional information is needed from the Veteran's private examiner.

The Veteran's request to reopen his service connection claim for type II diabetes mellitus is granted. His claims for high cholesterol, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and hypertension are remanded due to lack of evidence regarding herbicide exposure in Okinawa and contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The psychiatric disorder claim is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder, peripheral neuropathy (claimed as secondary to diabetes), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as secondary to diabetes) due to the lack of current diagnoses in the record.

The Veteran's claim for a low back disorder and hypertension has been reopened, with the former being granted as her current diagnosis of lumbar spondylosis raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating her claim.,Her claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) is also granted due to aggravation by her service-connected right hip and cervical spine disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and an acquired psychiatric disorder, but remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) has been granted.,Some issues have also been remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability and remanded the cases of hypertension, acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), and their relationship to her service-connected condition. The claims are being reviewed due to new evidence presented.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for arterial hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder should be remanded due to missing records, including SSA disability benefits decision and VA treatment records. The RO/AMC is instructed to seek these records and provide a supplemental statement of the case if necessary.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder does not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, need further development. The case will be sent back to VA for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for a bilateral hip condition and PTSD due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The Veteran's service records do not mention any hip or mental health issues, but his statements and those of his family members support his allegations.

The claim of service connection for tinnitus is granted. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is remanded.

The Board has determined that the claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (bipolar disorder) are inextricably intertwined due to their interrelated nature. The Veteran's service connection claims have been remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, undiagnosed illness resulting in numbness of arms, fatigue, headaches, sleeping difficulties, joint and muscle pain, low back disorder, and right knee disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, and a rating higher than 70% for his acquired psychiatric disorder. The issues have been REMANDED to allow for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent from December 21, 1999 for schizophrenia and a prior effective date to July 18, 2012 for a 100 percent evaluation is being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a compensable rating for microscopic anemia are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. Service connection is also remanded for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD.