Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The AOJ is instructed to make reasonable efforts to obtain VA treatment records from 1972 and verify the Veteran’s pay records.

The Board dismissed the appeal as there is no longer a case or controversy pending before the Board due to the full grant of benefits sought on appeal. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new evidence submitted since April 2010. However, further development is needed as there are uncertainties regarding the Veteran's exposure to in-service stressors and his receipt of 'Hostile Fire Pay' while aboard the U.S.S. Ramsey.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as there was no valid diagnosis of PTSD and the evidence did not show a link between current symptoms and service.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and lumbar disk bulging and facet degeneration of L4-5, as well as service connection for schizophrenia and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

The appeal for service connection of a pulmonary disorder (claimed as asbestos exposure) is dismissed. The initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied for the period prior to April 28, 2017. The claim for service connection of sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and granted it, finding that there is a current diagnosis and a causal relationship to active service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and adjustment disorder. The Veteran's claim is granted. The issue of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for migraine headaches is remanded.

The Veteran's left thigh abscess is denied as not service-connected. The effective date for the right ankle disability has been granted to August 14, 2008. A rating of 10 percent for painful right ankle surgical scars was granted from August 21, 2015, and a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is denied. The Board found no evidence of a pre-service diagnosis and concluded that the current psychiatric condition is not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for heart disability, hepatitis, kidney disability, and TBI were denied. Service connection for schizophrenia was granted with a 30 percent rating effective March 17, 2006.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder due to inextricability with another issue. The VA will obtain relevant medical records from the University of Tennessee hospital, Jamaica Plain VA facilities, and any other sources provided by the Appellant.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and back disability, finding no current diagnosis of a mental disorder or back condition. The TDIU claim was also remanded due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the other issues.

The Board has granted service connection for insomnia and an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's respiratory/pulmonary problems, heart condition (coronary artery disease), hypertension, circulatory condition, skin condition, recurrent headaches, eye condition and vision problems, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and psychiatric condition are not related to his military service.,The Veteran's current disabilities do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and requires a new examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of a rating in excess of 70 percent for a psychiatric disability prior to September 29, 2015, and in excess of 70 percent as of December 1, 2015; entitlement to a temporary total disability evaluation due to an in-patient admission in excess of 21 days; and entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on a need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board has decided to remand both claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and GERD as secondary to the same condition. The Veteran's claim is being reconsidered due to new evidence, and further medical opinions are needed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensably (zero percent) disabling. The Board finds that the findings of the VA audiological examinations do not support a compensable disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss at any time during the appeal period. For the service connection and TDIU issues, additional evidence is needed to determine the severity of PTSD and whether other psychiatric disorders are related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to the death of the claimant.