Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, and his sensorineural hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Veteran's COPD, hypertensive heart disease, PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including memory disorder, major depression, and generalized anxiety), and erectile dysfunction are all remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service. The claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches are remanded as new evidence has been submitted.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder, right wrist injury, right knee replacement, gout, and hip disability render him so helpless that he requires the aid and attendance of another person to perform daily activities.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and rating reductions for the Veteran's disabilities. The propriety of the reductions in evaluations for neck disability and bilateral hearing loss is under consideration, as are other claims including those for BPH, erectile dysfunction, gout, pre-diabetes mellitus, eye disability, left ventricular hypertrophy, back pain, tongue growth removal, creatinine kinase elevation, and accessory muscle of the neck.

The Board has granted service connection for radiculopathy of the left and right upper extremities, but has remanded issues regarding knee disabilities, shoulder disabilities, and an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for left knee disability, blindness in both eyes, psychiatric disabilities, decreased bone density, low back disability, and foot disability. The AOJ is instructed to obtain updated VA treatment records, Social Security Administration (SSA) decision and award letters, pay stubs from Puerto Rico Army National Guard service, verify the exact dates of each period of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) and Inactive Duty Training (INACDUTRA), and schedule a VA examination to determine the nature, initial onset dates, etiologies, and relationships between the Veteran's disabilities and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete information and need for further development, including obtaining records from the Veteran's service, treatment during his withdrawal from university, and in-service stressor verification.

The Veteran's appeals for tinnitus, bladder disability, skin disability, loss of teeth, chronic pain syndrome, blood clot on lungs, hypertension, and permanent incapacity were dismissed. The claims for service connection for left knee and left ankle disabilities are reopened but further development is needed due to the complexity of the issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include tinnitus, hearing loss, heel pain, ankle pain, knee pain, psychiatric disorders, GERD, stomach condition, headaches, lung condition, sinus condition, and throat condition.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches. The right knee, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), back disability, and neck disability claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, but denied both the claims for hepatitis C and the reopened claim for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions were denied. The claim to reopen the acquired psychiatric disorder was unsuccessful, and the other claims (for sleep apnea, acid reflux, sexual dysfunction, and migraine headaches) were also denied.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for unspecified nervous disability (claimed as schizophrenia) is denied. His claims for increased ratings for status post right inguinal herniorrhaphy, tender scar of right inguinal area, and left lower knee scar are also denied.

The Veteran's right shoulder injury residuals are not service-connected.,The Veteran's neck injury residuals are not service-connected.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) is not established.,Service connection for food poisoning residuals is not established.,Service connection for a chronic lung disability is not established.,A higher evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to April 27, 2016, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter for migraine headaches is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a left ankle/foot injury strain due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has decided that additional records are needed to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to her military service. The case will be returned for further action.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a diagnosis of anxiety disorder related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and mood disorder, NOS, should be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions. The case will need to be reviewed with consideration of all available records, including VA and non-VA treatment records, as well as any outstanding service personnel records.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right foot condition, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not support the Veteran’s assertions that these conditions were related to his military service.