Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying in-service stressors. A new VA examination is also needed to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to clarify the appellant's service connection claims, including obtaining her complete military personnel records and any relevant medical records.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically paranoid schizophrenia. The evidence submitted since the last denial did not provide new and material information to support the claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, IBS, GERD, and a right knee disorder have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of current diagnoses or chronic conditions related to these issues.,There are no medical records indicating the presence of any of these conditions during service, and post-service records do not provide sufficient evidence to establish their onset in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the previously denied claim.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes PTSD and bipolar disorder.,Service connection is also granted for tinnitus. However, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim was denied.

The Veteran's left knee disorder, back disorder, and right knee disorder have been granted service connection. The psychiatric disorder has not been found to be related to active duty service.

The Board has decided the case needs further examination and review due to incongruent diagnoses from a mental health consultation and VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD will be remanded for additional development.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus, heart disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), and COPD are not related to service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension have been denied as the required VA examinations were not conducted due to the Veteran's failure to appear without good cause.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder did not manifest during service and is not related to his active service.

The Board found clear and unmistakable evidence of a pre-existing psychiatric disability that existed prior to service. However, there is no clear and unmistakable evidence showing the condition was aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of fractured ribs and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include posttraumatic stress disorder and depression was denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding of a chronic, identifiable rib disability in or after service and against a finding of an acquired psychiatric disorder related to service.,The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for head injury residuals, left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative joint disease, and right knee instability were also denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding of entitlement to higher ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder and GERD were not incurred in or caused by his time in service. The Veteran's mental health conditions are presumed to be related to substance abuse, while his GERD is not shown to have been aggravated by a pre-existing condition.

The Board found no evidence of a right shoulder condition in service and denied the claim.,There is no evidence of a left foot skin disorder in service, and the Veteran's current symptoms are not related to his service. The claim for this condition was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD or any other service-connected psychiatric disorder, and therefore denied his claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to issues related to service connection and TDIU. The case must be returned for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, as well as his left eye disability, are not related to service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, was found to be aggravated by his service-connected erectile dysfunction. Service connection for this condition is granted.