Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a higher rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and a compensable rating for a skin condition due to missing treatment records and incomplete VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.,The Veteran's tinnitus rating was denied as the highest schedular level under Diagnostic Code 6260 has already been assigned.,The Veteran's headaches were rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum available for his condition. The claim for an increased rating was also denied.,Claims seeking effective dates prior to June 30, 2014 for service connection of tinnitus and headaches were denied as there are no records indicating entitlement within a year of separation from service or earlier.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including the effective date of service connection for sleep apnea and evaluations for various disabilities. The Veteran's claims for PTSD and a skin disability are also pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is denied as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings in September 2018, and the Board has dismissed these claims.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was granted service connection. The petition to reopen claims for sleep apnea, breast cancer, and a dental disorder was withdrawn. A rating of 60 percent for status post hemorrhoidectomy with narrowed rectal opening and fecal leakage (stricture of the rectum/anus) is granted from December 5, 2011.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and coronary artery disease secondary to PTSD. The evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD or establish a link between the current conditions and service.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder, is granted. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not compensably rated.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been granted service connection as they are related to his military service.,Service connection has not been established for the Veteran's allergy disorder, heart disorder, acquired psychiatric or neurocognitive disorder, sleep disorder, and memory loss disorder due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

All the Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of these conditions.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded as there is insufficient rationale provided by the May 2014 VA examiner.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including low blood cell count, respiratory disorder, swelling of the extremities, back disorder, tuberculosis, osteoporosis, prostate cancer, bladder disorder, IBS (bowel disorder), dental disorder, and schizophrenia have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen any of these claims.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disability (other than depressive disorder) to include PTSD at the September 2015 hearing. The Board dismissed this appeal as it was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder and erectile dysfunction were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,The denial is final because the Veteran did not appeal the decision.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for lumbar spine disorder, left foot disorder (heel spurs), functional impairment due to chest pain, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression), headache disorder, right foot disorder, and sleep disorder. The appeal is granted on these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence or conflicting opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and eligibility for treatment under 38 U.S.C. § 1702 for a psychiatric disorder.

The Board has denied service connection for TBI due to a lack of evidence of current disability or residuals thereof.,Service connection is remanded for respiratory disability, including sinusitis and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim to reopen a left ankle disability was denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.,Service connection for low back disorder, right ankle disability, sleep disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder were all denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.