Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection for thyroid gland disease and PTSD have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension has been granted, but a remand is required to obtain an opinion on its etiology.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD) is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left knee disability, and right knee cap disability are denied as not service connected.,The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, left groin disability, and right groin disability are denied as not service connected.,The Veteran's headache disability is denied as not service connected.

The Board has granted reopening of the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and a sleep disability as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be etiologically related to his service-connected low back disability.

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and headaches is granted.,An initial rating of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are etiologically related to his in-service exposure to asbestos.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim. The appeal was also denied for special monthly pension (SMP) based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board has granted the claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected psychiatric disability, as it is in equipoise that the Veteran cannot maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's NODs were timely and have identified several issues for remand, including service connection claims and reopening of previously denied claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a neck disability due to new and material evidence. The claims of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, lumbar strain, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include depressive disorder. The claims for hypertension and neck disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and a traumatic brain injury due to conflicting evidence regarding the onset and nature of these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia due to new and material evidence. However, the claim is still pending as further examination is required.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder and psychosis. The decision found no verified in-service stressors or other events that could link the current conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and bruxism due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's symptoms include PTSD, major depressive disorder, and bruxism. Further development is needed including obtaining medical records, verifying in-service stressors, and providing a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for low back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that new and material evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (manifested by anxiety and sleep impairment), and sleep apnea as the conditions were not related to service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition and hemorrhoids. The case is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for Meniere’s disease, back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disability due to outstanding records and need for further medical examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of compliance with previous instructions regarding in-service mental health treatment records. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's low back and psychiatric disorders are related to her service-connected bilateral knee disorder, but more evidence is needed for a definitive opinion.