Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date than August 17, 1993, for a 100% disability rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder is denied as there was no legal entitlement to such an earlier date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder, neck disorder, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, type II, and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) require additional development due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disorder, including whether it is related to service or caused by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence. The effective date for the grant of service connection for a left ankle sprain is denied as there were no prior unadjudicated claims.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been denied.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and anxiety) is granted as secondary to service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for schizophrenia and PTSD have been granted. The appeals to reopen the claims for left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and headaches are also granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for his acquired psychiatric disability was denied. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 100 percent evaluation.,Service connection for type 2 diabetes, to include as due to Gulf War illness, was also denied. The VA examiner indicated there is no evidence linking the current diabetes disability to service.

This decision denies service connection for burns and non-service connected pension benefits. The Veteran's burn injuries are not related to his military service, and he does not have the required wartime service for nonservice-connected pension benefits.,The remaining issues of service connection for various conditions are remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including unspecified schizophrenia, other psychotic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, major depression and schizophreniform disorder, are service-connected as they likely began during her active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including blurred vision, dizziness, an irregular heartbeat, and headaches.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral hand condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to in-service frostbite. The issues are being remanded for further development, including VA examinations.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and hypertension is denied. The claim for service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD and major depressive) is remanded.,The TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with the claims for service connection being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for both PTSD and schizophrenia, finding that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and that his schizophrenia did not begin during or as a result of service.

The Veteran's right knee brace is not prescribed for a service-connected disability, so he cannot receive a clothing allowance.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and residuals of traumatic injury to include post-concussive headaches have been denied. The effective date for service connection has also been denied.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that the condition did not have its onset during military service or is otherwise related to a disease or injury during active duty.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability. The appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions regarding his diabetes mellitus, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's PTSD claim. The Veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD, but a VA examination was not conducted or an opinion provided on this matter.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and remanded the rating claims for left and right shoulder strain, rotator cuff tendonitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, a rating in excess of 10 percent for TBI, and a rating in excess of 30 percent for posttraumatic headaches. The Board found no nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's active duty service or his service-connected disabilities.