Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a medical opinion regarding whether the appellant was 'insane' during his time in the Army Reserve, which could affect service connection for psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's stroke residuals are granted as secondary to his service-connected CAD. Service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, is denied. A rating of 10 percent is granted for the right arm shell fragment wound residuals.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection and rating for various conditions, including left knee disorder to include degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, left Achilles tendon disorder, psychiatric disorder, hypertension, sleep disorder, headache disorder, and tinnitus. Additional relevant service treatment records have been received.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, residuals of sprained finger ligaments and little finger injury of the left hand, and a right foot disability. The claims are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders. Additional development is needed, including verification of in-service stressors and a VA examination.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a 50 percent rating for schizophrenia prior to July 25, 2012 on the grounds that the Veteran's symptoms were not factually ascertainable before this date.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders have been granted service connection as they are aggravated by his service-connected back, neck and joint disabilities.,Cysts due to exposure to chemicals at Camp Lejeune have not been granted service connection as there is no evidence of a chronic disease associated with the exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a left jaw disability, left third finger disability, gastrointestinal disorder (GERD), erectile dysfunction (ED), atopic dermatitis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The cases are being remanded to provide additional medical opinions on these issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The Veteran's psychiatric disability is being reviewed again as it may be related to service, but also needs clarification on its pre-service status.

The Veteran's eczema with xerosis has been rated at 60 percent since December 14, 2015. The Board found that the Veteran’s psychiatric disability (including major depression and PTSD) should be remanded for a VA examination to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, uncontrollable twitching, vertigo, PTSD, asthma, skin disability, and bilateral knee disabilities are denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or link to exposure at Camp Lejeune.,There was no medical opinion linking any of these conditions to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and adjustment disorder, finding that her symptoms are related to in-service stressors.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's current anxiety disorder did not begin during or as a result of his military service.

The Veteran's left wrist strain is granted service connection, effective from the date of separation.,Service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities is denied as earlier effective dates are not supported by evidence.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various conditions due to receipt of additional relevant service medical records. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence to verify in-service stressors and for obtaining additional medical records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is now pending.

The Veteran's service connection claim for psychosis, claimed as paranoid schizophrenia, is denied because the condition resulted from willful misconduct during active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD, and GAD, was not incurred or aggravated by service. However, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, his acquired psychiatric disability, including alcohol use disorder, is considered to be attributable to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of his acquired psychiatric condition and hemorrhoids are dismissed. The Veteran is granted service connection for IBS, secondary to a service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, and for rectal sphincter impairment, secondary to service-connected hemorrhoids.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and missing records. The Veteran's back disorder is being examined again, and a psychiatric examination will be conducted with consideration of all reported stressors.