Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes, type II due to herbicide exposure and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, major depression, and an anxiety disorder), as well as increased ratings for right arm disabilities. The VA is instructed to verify the Veteran's claimed in-service Agent Orange exposure and schedule him for a VA examination to assess his current disability levels.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral eye injury, and dental condition due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection was also denied for congestive heart failure, hypertension, kidney condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder (MDD and PTSD) as the Veteran's conditions were not related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and the need for a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, TBI, and psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical opinions and lack of VA examinations addressing all relevant theories of entitlement.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are inextricably intertwined and must be remanded due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The issues include back disorders, cervical spine disability, psychiatric conditions, right knee disability, GERD, radiculopathy, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy.

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches as aggravated by a service-connected disability (tinnitus). The claim for sleep apnea was denied. The Veteran's glaucoma of the left eye is currently rated at 10 percent and no higher rating or extraschedular consideration is warranted. The earlier effective date claims were also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, anxiety, and depression. The VA must obtain additional medical opinions addressing whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for low back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a right ankle disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and anxiety) is remanded due to new evidence received since the July 1998 rating decision. The Veteran's request for a hearing before the Board was withdrawn.

The Board has remanded four issues: right shoulder disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression and anxiety), right ankle disorder, and ear disorder. The Veteran's claims are not ready for the Board’s review due to his failure to appear for VA examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, ischemic heart disease, and various musculoskeletal disabilities. The case is remanded to provide the Veteran with VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hearing loss and an increased rating for status post fractured radius of the left wrist have been dismissed.,Service connection for emphysema (lung injury) has been denied, as there is no evidence linking it to asbestos exposure or service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his claims, including service connection for various conditions and their secondary effects.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder and PTSD), and sleep apnea secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's neck and low back disabilities were not incurred in service, nor are they related to any incident of service.,Neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities was not shown to have had its onset during service or within a year thereafter. The Veteran did not seek treatment for these conditions until many years after service separation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and sleep apnea syndrome, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his active duty. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD is denied as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for obstructive sleep apnea and acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted, and a rating of 60 percent for dyshidrotic eczema is granted effective from the date of the decision. Other service connection claims are denied.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including bladder disability, psychiatric disorders (including PTSD and depression), sleep apnea, varicose veins, liver damage, erectile dysfunction, bicep disabilities, knee disabilities, ankle disabilities, low back disability, scar and numbness of the back, right wrist disability, missing tooth disability, eye disability (chronic conjunctivitis), bronchitis, and asthma. The Board found that these conditions are not related to service or do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD as due to MST. The case will be reviewed after a VA mental health examination is conducted.