Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's competency to handle VA benefit payments was previously found incompetent due to mental health issues, and the Board has denied restoration of his competency status.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of current diagnoses and insufficient evidence. The Veteran is presumed exposed to herbicide agents in Vietnam, but no presumptive service connection can be granted for hypertension or PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected prostate cancer, which led to an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence is in equipoise and thus supports granting service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) are remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of Vietnam service and exposure to Agent Orange, a VA examination, and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, finding that his condition did not have onset during active service and is not otherwise related to active service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a low back disability and a psychiatric disorder, as well as the claim seeking compensation per 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for hypertension resulting from inadequate VA treatment.

The Veteran's service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than chronic adjustment disorder, with mixed features (which includes PTSD, anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and memory loss) is also denied. The Veteran's symptoms are accounted for in the existing rating for his service-connected adjustment disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need to consider a newly raised theory of service connection for the cause of death under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and granted service connection for headaches, major depressive disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea. The cervical spine disability claim remains denied as new and material evidence was not received.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of bilateral hearing loss and a psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder but denied service connection for GERD. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is linked to his military service, while there is no evidence linking GERD to service.

The Veteran's application to reopen claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorders, low back disorder, right ankle disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The case is remanded for additional examinations and development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD due to inadequate compliance with prior remand instructions.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his post-operative small puncture wound of the chest was denied because there were no findings of unstable or painful scars. The service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including MDD, was also denied as there is no evidence that it is related to his service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including those related to gout, left wrist disorder, right wrist disorder, back disorder, sleep apnea, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's service treatment records show he reported and was treated for many of these conditions during his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his cervical spine, low back, and psychiatric disorders were denied. The VA found that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's reduction in disability rating from 70% to 50% for his psychiatric disorder is restored, and a new increased rating claim for the same condition is granted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD and unspecified adjustment disorder with anxious mood, is granted as service connected. The bladder disability claim has been remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new and material evidence. The claims for a compensable rating for spondylosis of the lumbar spine are also remanded.