Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and lack of a reasoned etiological opinion. The issues will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and decreased vision, but has remanded his claim for secondary service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD and depression.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate for determining service connection for the Veteran's low back condition and psychiatric disorder. The case is therefore being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, an eating disorder/obesity, a left knee disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been denied. However, the claims for these conditions have been reopened due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.,Service connection has been granted for hypertension.

The Board has remanded the following issues: increased rating for thoracolumbar strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, initial rating in excess of 10 percent for sciatic nerve impingement of the right lower extremity associated with thoracolumbar strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, increased rating for left knee degenerative arthritis, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability. The RO must consider all evidence received since the last September 2016 statement of the case.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a back condition, and remanded the claims for increased ratings for bilateral hand trauma residuals.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete consideration of all submitted evidence and issues on appeal. The claims will be reconsidered with the inclusion of new medical records and a VA examination.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary due to the inadequacy of the VA examination and the need for clarification regarding whether the Veteran has a current psychiatric diagnosis, and if so, whether it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected migraines.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, migraine headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including other specified trauma/stressor-related disorder and schizophrenia with other psychotic disorder, is considered service connected due to the connection between his military service and his reported stressors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to herbicide agent exposure, including for lymph node cancer and skin cancer. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient information regarding his periods of active duty and Air Force Reserve service, particularly concerning vaccinations he received in 1987. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records and complete forms for VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is not related to his in-service symptoms and that there is insufficient evidence of a pre-existing condition or injury during service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, and migraine variant headaches due to missing VA treatment records and inadequate examination reports. The Veteran will be provided with a new VA examination for her gastrointestinal issues, a new VA examination for her psychiatric disorders, and an updated rating for her migraines.

The Board denied service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities, finding that the current conditions are not related to service. Service connection was also denied for a psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence of a compensable disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include unspecified anxiety disorder, is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a prostate condition, to include prostate cancer, is granted.,Service connection for a sleep condition is denied.,Service connection for a cervical spine disability is denied.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability is denied.,Service connection for hypertension is denied.,Service connection for rocky mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further examinations. The issues of right elbow disability, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and acquired psychiatric disorder are being reviewed.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep disability, erectile dysfunction, left knee disability, right knee disability, pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus, type 2, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, sleep apnea, and denied service connection for tinnitus and heart disability. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is linked to his active service, while sleep apnea is secondary to his now service-connected acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for diabetes mellitus, type II and its complications, as well as various eye disabilities, heart conditions, peripheral neuropathy, and psychiatric disorders. The remand is due to the need to verify the Veteran’s reported exposure to herbicides while in Panama.