Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Veteran requested withdrawal of multiple service connection claims for various conditions, including chronic fatigue, sinus disability, respiratory disability (bronchitis), cardiac disability, bowel disability, gastric ulcer disability, sleep apnea, and headaches. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability was reopened due to new evidence received.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the Veteran's conditions and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's hearing loss is granted as service connected. The remaining issues of service connection for psychiatric disorders, asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, and bilateral foot disabilities are remanded due to lack of a nexus opinion.

The Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and obstructive sleep apnea are all found to be related to service. High cholesterol is not a disability for VA purposes. The acquired psychiatric disability (other than PTSD), including unspecified depressive disorder and bipolar affective disorder, is also found to be related to service.

The Board has restored a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder effective September 1, 2015, after finding that the reduction of the rating from 50 to 10 percent was improper due to inadequate notice provided regarding the February 2015 VA examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left knee disorder and psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) are not service-connected. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for headaches and an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) as there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a traumatic brain injury is denied. The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as depression and anxiety, is granted. His claims are remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Veteran's son, M.J., is being remanded for further examination and evaluation to determine if he was permanently incapable of self-support as of his 18th birthday due to a mental or physical disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include generalized anxiety disorder), and PTSD due to additional evidentiary development being necessary.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and bipolar disorder, as well as left ear hearing loss were denied. The claim for payment of nonservice-connected pension benefits while incarcerated was also denied due to the Veteran's incarceration status. The case is remanded for an addendum opinion regarding right ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the cases of hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the inextricability with other service connection claims for psychiatric and right knee disorders. The outcome of these claims could affect his TDIU.

The Board denied reopening service connection for schizophrenia as the new evidence did not relate to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's son, N.F., is recognized as a helpless child of the Veteran due to permanent incapacity for self-support prior to reaching age 18.,Service connection granted for ischemic heart disease (atherosclerotic heart disease) based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Veteran's current disability of degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and invertebral disc syndrome with associated bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy is related to his active duty service. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include bipolar disorder, is remanded.

The Board has vacated its May 16, 2018 decision and remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions.

The Board has determined that the death of the service member was not in line of duty due to willful misconduct, but a new review by the Department of the Army suggests it should be considered in line of duty. The appellant contends that the Veteran suffered from psychiatric disabilities as a result of his service which led to drug overdose. The Board now requires a VA medical opinion to determine if the drug abuse was caused or aggravated by a service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD; and initial ratings for left ankle and left knee disabilities due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise that the Veteran's current psychiatric condition had its onset during service. Service connection for PTSD was denied.