Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeals on bone disease, diabetes mellitus, and forehead laceration were withdrawn prior to the promulgation of a decision. The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability was granted as secondary to TBI.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at a maximum of 50 percent, and his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded for further examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for alcohol and drug dependency, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, lower back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been reopened due to new evidence received since previous denials. However, the Board finds that there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to service or post-service treatment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of medical records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for his right shoulder scars, bilateral toe scars, or resection of metatarsal heads. His hearing loss was rated appropriately under VA guidelines. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and anxiety) was granted as new and material evidence had been received since the last denial in 2006.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, back disability, neck disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) were denied. The hearing loss claim was granted with a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board found that the appellant does not have a current psychiatric disability causally related to his active service or any incident therein.

The Board has remanded both claims for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, conducting a VA examination, and providing an opinion on the relationship between any diagnosed conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for right and left ankle disabilities, right and left knee disabilities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in the November 2016 letter from Dr. T.R.F.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar degenerative arthritis and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and a mood disorder. The Veteran's back pain is believed to have occurred due to a personal assault during service, which may have aggravated his existing condition. The VA needs to obtain relevant medical records from San Diego NMC for both claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining his service personnel records, VA treatment records, and SSA records. The Veteran will also be scheduled for a VA psychiatric examination to address any acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and has also granted TDIU. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding the in-service stressor allegations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative changes of the thoracic and lumbar spine has been reopened, and it is granted. The other issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his lumbar spine and acquired psychiatric disabilities is dismissed. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of a peripheral vestibular disorder as withdrawn by the Veteran.,Service connection was denied for a cervical spine disability due to lack of evidence linking it to service or a service-connected condition.,Secondary service connection was granted for chronic headaches, which are linked to the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability and sleep apnea.

The Veteran is granted service connection for a skin disorder, presumed due to his Vietnam-era herbicide exposure. The Board also grants service connection for PTSD based on credible testimony of in-service stressors.,For the left knee and hearing loss claims, these are being remanded as additional development is needed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his sarcoidosis, posttraumatic stress disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 100 percent. The acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder, is found to be secondary to her service-connected conditions and granted service connection. The Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left sciatic nerve radicular pain, lateral femoral cutaneous nerve radicular pain, a bilateral hip condition, posttraumatic stress disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder), finding that there was no evidence of in-service disease or injury related to these conditions.