Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board denied the reopening of claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including a nervous condition, depression, and anxiety), finding that new and material evidence was not submitted to support these claims.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral radiculopathy of the lower extremities, an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as secondary to service-connected lumbosacral strain), and sleep apnea are all granted due to their being related to her service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied as only a single 10 percent rating can be assigned for recurrent tinnitus.,The claims for left hip disability, right hip disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, and abnormal involuntary movements are all remanded due to incomplete medical records.

The Board has dismissed all issues on appeal as the Veteran passed away during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened and is granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on in-service noise exposure and continuity of symptomatology.,Service connection for a cervical spine disability is denied due to lack of evidence of in-service injury or disease, and the absence of any compensable degree of degenerative disc disease within one year of service separation.,Service connection for sleep apnea is denied as there is no in-service incident and no evidence of chronicity.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, headache disability, hepatitis, vision disorder, lung disorder (asbestosis and mesothelioma), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) due to incomplete evidence and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's hypertension prior to August 3, 2015 required continuous use of medication for control but did not meet the criteria for a separate compensable rating. The Board found that his acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) was not related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back and psychiatric disabilities due to incomplete records and need for a VA examination.

The claim for service connection is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed low back disorder, head injury residuals, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety), and a brain disorder (including TBI and frontal temporal dementia). The case is being remanded to obtain additional evidence and provide further examination.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left wrist disability was denied. An effective date earlier than March 23, 2004 for the award of service connection for left wrist disability and an effective date from October 21, 2013 for TDIU were also denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination as they are related to service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed stressors and a need for further examination. The case will be returned to the RO for additional development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder with insomnia warrants a disability rating of 70 percent. The issue of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right shoulder impingement syndrome is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and earlier effective dates has been dismissed. The Board has remanded several issues including service connection claims due to incomplete records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, asthma, a urinary disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for further development.,No specific service connection theory is applicable as none of the conditions appear to be linked to military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, osteopenia, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, cognitive disorder, and/or depression) due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's left and right knee chondromalacia are currently rated at 10 percent each, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations.,Prior to December 6, 2016, the Veteran's hypertension was rated as noncompensable. Since then, it has been rated at 10 percent.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, major depression, and generalized anxiety disorder) is currently rated at 30 percent prior to December 6, 2016, and 70 percent from that date.,PTSD alone was not rated higher than 70 percent since it does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the claims for a left hip disability, right knee disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service records indicate multiple shrapnel wounds during service in Vietnam.