Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorder to include depression, headache disorder, tinnitus, and diabetes mellitus. The issues were decided as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, particularly PTSD. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran is granted an initial rating of 100 percent for schizophrenia from October 1, 1998. The appeal regarding hypertension remains pending as no VA examiner has provided a medical opinion on its etiology.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of various conditions due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The effective date for service connection remains August 12, 2004.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disability to include depression as the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD due to insufficient evidence from a previous examination conducted under DSM-5, which is not applicable to these cases.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, vestibular/balance disorder (claimed as dizziness), left knee disorder, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to outstanding records and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding medical records not being obtained. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization forms for any private treatment records from Lakeland Regional Medical Center and Winter Haven Hospital.

The Veteran's right knee brace was granted a clothing allowance for the 2015 calendar year due to its tendency to wear out or tear his pants. However, he did not receive an allowance for steroid cream used on his legs as there were no service-connected conditions requiring such treatment.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, was denied as the appeal was untimely filed.

The appeal for service connection of a right knee disability and COPD associated with asbestos exposure is dismissed. Service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, respiratory disability, bilateral pes planus, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disability due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and clarification of the Veteran's claims regarding his back condition and acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded for further examination and development of her claims.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for PTSD and depression is granted. The case is remanded for further examination and evaluation of the Veteran's bilateral ankle disorder, low back disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorders.

Your appeals for service connection have been remanded due to the addition of new VA medical records. Your case will be returned to the RO for initial review and readjudication.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, is denied as not related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for duodenal ulcer residuals and a compensable rating for hemorrhoids, as well as the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (presumed to include PTSD). The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), as well as his claim for a temporary total disability evaluation following spondylolisthesis surgery. The AOJ is instructed to obtain any relevant outstanding VA treatment records and readjudicate the claims.