Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current psychiatric symptoms and service, as well as the need for further development in relation to his claim for colon cancer.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claims for sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and a heart condition claimed as tachycardia are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lower back pain, prostate cancer, skin disease, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (previously claimed as a nervous disorder).

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetic retinopathy of the right eye, neuropathy of the left hand, and PTSD are granted. The remaining issues (neuropathy of the right hand and psychiatric disability other than PTSD) are remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete service personnel records and updated VA treatment records are needed for a full review of the claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for lupus, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and tinnitus are not supported by the evidence of record. The appeals have been remanded due to insufficient medical or lay evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and schizoaffective, depressive type.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine disability, left and right arm numbness and tingling, and psychiatric disability due to insufficient development of evidence.

The Veteran's claim to reopen the nervous condition and psychiatric disorder service connection claims has been granted. The psychiatric disorder service connection claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened. The VA has granted increased ratings for his knee conditions and lateral instability issues as of June 27, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as there was no evidence of a stressor that could warrant a diagnosis of PTSD under VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a genitourinary condition, including prostatitis, is granted. The claims for prostate cancer as secondary to the genitourinary condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded. The claim for erectile dysfunction (secondary to prostate cancer) is also remanded.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for hypertension and granted service connection for a low back disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), but remanded the claims for service connection for neck disability and secondary service connection for hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The VA and SSA records need to be obtained and reviewed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed dissociative disorder is at least as likely as not related to service, and therefore grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including post-traumatic stress disorder, dissociative disorder, and depressive disorder.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of colon cancer, psychiatric disorder (claimed as secondary to residuals of colon cancer), and erectile dysfunction. The evidence did not establish a nexus between the current disabilities and service or any incident therein.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verifying a claimed stressor of military sexual trauma and scheduling an examination to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to service. The TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with the service connection issue.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and personnel records. The AOJ must also verify the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, IBS, erectile dysfunction, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The claim for bladder cancer is also remanded.