Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his right knee condition, acquired psychiatric disorder, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome. The Veteran is also being asked for a new examination to determine the severity of his lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric condition, finding that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD or any other mental health disorder recognized by DSM-5.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened and granted. The Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of his claims for left knee, right shoulder, left shoulder, rib contusion, bilateral foot disorder (other than skin disorder), and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD).

The Board denied reopening and service connection for skin disorders, acquired psychiatric disorders, and low back disabilities due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for inguinal hernia. The claims for back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, myeloma, peripheral neuropathy (left upper extremity), peripheral neuropathy (left lower extremity), radiculopathy (right lower extremity), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder) are remanded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for depression, anxiety, and an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's right shoulder impingement syndrome is granted as service connection was reopened.,Service connection for lumbar spine disability with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and insomnia), bilateral flat feet, left hip disability, right hip condition, left wrist disability, right wrist disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, heart condition, and erectile dysfunction is granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient examination reports and lack of evidence regarding the onset and relationship of his disabilities. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically paranoid schizophrenia, is denied as there was no evidence of its onset during service or within the applicable presumptive period. The Board found that continuity of symptomatology was not established and that the condition is not etiologically related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and depression. The issue of service connection for alcoholism as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and procedural issues. The claims include service connection for various conditions, including benign prostatic hyperplasia, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, sleep disorder, MDD, and GAD), hiatal hernia, GERD, PUD, chronic colitis, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, degenerative joint disease of both hips, degenerative joint disease of both knees, degenerative joint disease of both feet, conjunctivitis, and hypertensive cardiovascular disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a TBI, chronic headache disorder (migraine and tension headaches), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) are all granted. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is remanded due to the need for further examination.,Service connection has been granted for tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for tinnitus, low back injury residuals, bilateral hearing loss, and a psychiatric disorder due to incomplete records and need for further medical examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and adjustment disorder, was denied. The Veteran also had her initial rating for urinary incontinence increased to 20 percent from July 24, 2012 to July 7, 2014, but later decreased to 40 percent from July 8, 2014 to September 30, 2014 and then to 60 percent since October 1, 2014. The cervical spine disorder claim was remanded, as was the rating for lumbar spine disability. The TDIU claim was also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for paraphilia has been dismissed. The Board also remanded the case to obtain additional records and schedule a VA examination for an acquired psychiatric disorder and personality disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disability due to insufficient evidence in their respective examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected conditions and their relationship to his death. The VA must obtain a medical opinion on whether any acquired psychiatric disorder was related to service, if alcohol use disorder is found to be service connected, and whether urosepsis was caused by or aggravated by bladder cancer.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate examination for service connection of a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. A new VA examination is required.