Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for headaches but reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (bipolar disorder). The Veteran's current psychiatric disability is related to his service, and he has a current headache condition. However, there is no medical evidence linking the current headache condition directly to service.

The Veteran's schizophrenia and generalized anxiety disorder are service-connected as they have been continuously present since her military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, substance abuse, and ulcer. The Veteran's claims are inextricably intertwined with his claim for TDIU due to the need to determine whether he is entitled to service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right thumb condition, a right heel condition, and an acquired psychiatric condition due to new evidence received. The claim for degenerative arthritis of the spine remains in remand status.

The Board has remanded the claims of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric, to include PTSD, and entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetes mellitus due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left wrist, right wrist, cervical spine, bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The claims were either not appealed or the evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder and paranoid schizophrenia) due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran was not provided with a valid VA examination for his hearing loss claim, and he needs to be scheduled for another one. For his psychiatric disorder claim, a VA examination is needed to determine if it is at least as likely as not that the condition had its onset during service or is related to any in-service disease, event, or injury.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition is denied as there is no current diagnosis of such a disorder.,An evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the right long finger disability is denied due to lack of evidence showing marked limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including cervical spine, lumbar spine, hip, knee, ankle, shoulder and arm, elbow, wrist, and psychiatric conditions. The issues have been recharacterized to reflect the benefit sought by the Veteran on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for vitiligo and left shin 'scarring' (dermatitis) as well as psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The preponderance of the evidence indicated that these conditions were not related to service.

The Veteran's high cholesterol is denied as it represents only a laboratory finding and not an actual disability.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, shin splints, and eye disorder are all denied due to lack of current evidence of these conditions during the appeal period.,Tinnitus was remanded as there is no direct service connection based on in-service noise exposure. Additional development needed.,Bilateral foot disorder and cervical spine disorder were both found to be normal by VA examiners, with no findings or diagnoses provided.

The Veteran's maxillary sinusitis is currently rated at 10 percent prior to November 9, 2016 and at 30 percent thereafter. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability diagnosed as pain disorder remains rated at 30 percent.,Effective dates for service connection are denied for an acquired psychiatric disability diagnosed as pain disorder and irritable bowel syndrome.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records, including those from Dr. P and Dr. G.

The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression and a nervous condition is granted. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and enlarged liver with indicated fatty infiltration and cysts (claimed as cysts) are denied. The claim of service connection for hepatitis C is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and lack of medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction and acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety, NOS and depressive disorder, NOS) are granted service connection. The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome is remanded for further examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hypertension and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) are related to his military service, specifically due to PTSD. The case is being sent back for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of TDIU is being remanded due to procedural issues and potential extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD were denied as a matter of law due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including fibromyalgia, prostate cancer, sleep apnea, gastrointestinal disorders, colon cancer, hiatal hernia, acid reflux, erectile dysfunction, skin disorder, and neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The Veteran's claims were based on direct service connection rather than presumptive exposure to herbicides or other conditions.