Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence for a decision on service connection for PTSD. A VA examination is required to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are related to his military service.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia caused or aggravated his drug abuse, and if so, whether this led to his respiratory disorder that ultimately caused his death.

The Veteran's claims for coronary artery disease, neurological problems in both legs (claimed as a neurological disorder), and PTSD have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of service connection due to the lack of chronic symptoms related to these conditions during or immediately after service.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset in service. The Veteran's hepatitis C claim will be remanded for a supplemental medical opinion, while his psychiatric disorder claim requires additional VA treatment records and a supplemental medical opinion from a psychiatrist.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and increased disability ratings on multiple conditions, including prostate cancer, shoulder disabilities, high blood pressure, hepatitis C, sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder, low back disability, knee instability, ankle disabilities, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for food poisoning has been dismissed. The Board also remanded several issues including the rating of lumbar spine disability, secondary service connection for bladder condition and BUE conditions, secondary service connection for BLE conditions, secondary service connection for gunshot wound to the left leg, service connection for respiratory condition (asthma), service connection for hepatitis C, and secondary service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD as due to an in-service assault and/or MST because the Veteran's allegations of such events were not sufficiently corroborated, and there was no medical evidence linking his current mental health conditions to his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral knee pain and granted it. The claims for flat feet, an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD), a pain disorder, heart disease, carotid artery disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and insomnia are all denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased rating and TDIU for a psychiatric disability, as well as service connection claims for back disability and bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence of record to support service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a VA examination is needed.

The Board has ordered the Veteran to be examined by a VA psychiatrist regarding her claimed acquired psychiatric disability. The examination is needed to determine if her current psychiatric condition is related to her military service, specifically her reported in-service sexual assault.

The Veteran's preexisting migraine headaches are found to be aggravated by active service, and the claim for service connection is granted. The claims for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy involving the sciatic nerve, cervical spine disability, and acquired psychiatric disability are denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims and found that new evidence supports a current diagnosis of left shoulder strain. However, the Board denied service connection for all other claimed disabilities as they were not shown to be related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for exposure to ionizing radiation, psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims for service connection for these conditions are all denied.

The Veteran's hemorrhoids have been rated at 20% since July 2013. The Board has found that the Veteran is entitled to this rating based on her symptoms and medical evidence. However, the Veteran's migraines and psychiatric disorders are still under review due to insufficient evidence.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted with an effective date of April 23, 2013. Service connection for a right eye disability and left eye disability are denied. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea are denied. Secondary service connection for headaches and acquired psychiatric disability (including an adjustment disorder and depressive disorder) aggravated by tinnitus is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for an arachnoid cyst on her brain and a psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety, PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's claim for sinusitis was denied, and her claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression) and insomnia were granted. The case is remanded to obtain a VA examination regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The acquired psychiatric disorder, if any, is also being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, left leg disability, and acquired psychiatric disability due to the preponderance of evidence not supporting a relationship between these conditions and service.