Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, including PFS of the right knee, and did not reopen the claim for an acquired psychiatric disability. The Veteran's current right knee PFS is not shown to be related to his service or service-connected left knee PFS.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disorder. The Veteran's current right shoulder disorders are related to his active service.

The Veteran's request to reconsider service connection for a left hip disability is granted. The claim will be reconsidered, but the criteria for service connection are not met.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as a psychiatric disability, were denied because the evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including sleep apnea, hepatitis C, erectile dysfunction, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The VA is instructed to obtain relevant medical records, request SSA disability benefits information, provide a VCAA notice letter regarding secondary service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, attempt to corroborate in-service stressors, and obtain addendum opinions from VA clinicians.

The claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder is reopened and remanded due to the need for an examination. The claims for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and psychiatric disorders are also remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the reopening of the lumbar spine claim.

Service connection is denied for sleep apnea, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and mental disorder (claimed as a psychiatric condition). The Veteran's coronary artery disease is rated at 60 percent since May 23, 2017.,The claim for service connection for tinnitus is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and a combined disability rating of 80 percent due to procedural issues. The Veteran is also being asked to provide updated treatment records and undergo a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation prior to June 11, 2012 was denied as he did not have a single service-connected disability rated at 100 percent or permanently housebound due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation prior to June 11, 2012 was denied as he did not have a single service-connected disability rated at 100% and there is no evidence of housebound status due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is service-connected, and his IBS and headaches are found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran has been diagnosed with PTSD due to military sexual trauma (MST). His IBS and headaches are linked to this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not properly adjudicated due to procedural issues and remands them for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, vision defect, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, polyps (presumed due to herbicide exposure), and gastritis. Additional development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities or other factors.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran's disability will be recharacterized as an acquired psychiatric disorder to include both conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disorder, uterine disorder, psychiatric disorder (including panic disorder, anxiety disorder, and unspecified attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder), insomnia, and fatigue due to inadequate examinations and lack of evidence addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder and other specified trauma and stressor related psychiatric disorder are granted as service-connected.,An increased disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the appeal for further development and examination regarding service connection claims, including those related to heart disability, psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD), left inguinal hernia, post aortofemoral bypass residuals, right inguinal hernia, and TDIU. The Veteran's lay statements about exposure to chemicals during National Guard service are also being addressed.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to insufficient information and need for further examination. The Veteran's joint pain, shoulder disorders, back disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder are all being reviewed.

The Board vacated the September 18, 2018 decision denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension. The TDIU claim is remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claims.