Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, post-operative abdominal injury, acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder), diabetes mellitus, type II, and right hip scar, residual of a gunshot wound due to missing in-service treatment records and VA treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of head trauma and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding no current disability related to in-service events.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating for various conditions have been denied. The issues of service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development regarding alleged exposure to herbicide agents or other chemicals during his time in Okinawa.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his left knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorder, and stomach disorder. The VA is directed to obtain additional treatment records and provide the Veteran with appropriate examinations to address these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD due to conflicting evidence regarding the diagnosis of PTSD in the record. The claim is also remanded for a VA examination to determine the etiology of squamous cell carcinoma.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete treatment records, outdated examinations, and the need for a VA examination for PTSD. The claims will be reconsidered after these issues are addressed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that his hearing loss began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,Service connection has been granted for tinnitus, with the Board noting that the Veteran's lay statements supported his claim.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the prior remand directives and requires additional development for a psychiatric disability claim.

The Board has expanded the issue of service connection for PTSD (as claimed by the Veteran) to include any acquired psychiatric disability. The case is being remanded due to incomplete records from Palo Alto Veterans Hospital.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disorder (persistent depressive disorder), and headache disability are all granted as service-connected.,Diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, hernia disability, lower back pinched nerve disability, lumbar spine disability, arthritis, right lower extremity disability (chronic lymphedema), and left lower extremity disability are denied as not being related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include hypertension, stomach disorder (ulcers, stomach problems, GERD), right knee disability, right ankle disability, right leg disability, right foot disability, back disorder (DDD of the lumbar spine), erectile dysfunction, and acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety and depression).

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction are all granted. However, the rating for hypertension is remanded as it may be related to prostate cancer.,An examination is needed to determine if the Veteran’s hypertension is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected prostate cancer.

The Veteran's effective date for Special Monthly Pension (SMP) based on housebound status is granted as of December 7, 2005. The decision finds that the Veteran’s psychiatric disorder alone prevented him from leaving his home before this date.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions to determine the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss, chronic headaches, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), and right eye condition. The Board will also consider service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to concerns raised by a Joint Motion for Partial Remand (JMPR) from the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. The issues must be addressed again with additional medical opinions considering the Veteran's lay statements and testimony.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate and invalid examination results, potential noise exposure based on his MOS, and lack of private treatment records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for PTSD and acquired psychiatric disorders, as well as bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's left foot disability and right foot disability are also remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for his acquired psychiatric disability, characterized as chronic PTSD to include unspecified depressive disorder, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking or mood.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder, and hypertension as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient development and potential errors in previous decisions. The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder is being reviewed again with additional evidence requested.