Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence being submitted. The issues include reopening of claims for lumbar spine disability, right eye disability, migraine headaches, acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and schizoaffective disorder), and dermatophytosis.

The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable evaluations for right and left hand carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as her appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability to include simple phobia (now consolidated under major depressive disorder with PTSD and insomnia), have been dismissed. The Veteran has also been granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's tinnitus and acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.,His bilateral hearing loss is also being remanded as the VA examination did not provide a definitive opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for residuals of bladder cancer and service connection for PTSD. The Veteran did not have current residuals of bladder cancer or a valid diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder, low back disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder were denied. The claim for ischemic heart disease was reopened due to new evidence but the underlying claim remains denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and service personnel records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and claustrophobia. The claims are being remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, nerve disorder, PTSD, depression, and schizophrenia, has been reopened. The case is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, low back disorder, and hypercholesterolemia due to potential issues with causation or etiology.

The Veteran's appeal for reopening his claim of service connection for left knee chondromalacia patellae was granted. The appeals for other conditions were remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a TBI and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression, are remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation. The SMC claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, left knee arthritis, and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right knee DJD have been dismissed. The claim for special monthly pension (SMP) has also been dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, a rating in excess of 10 percent for a bilateral foot disability, and service connection for brain disease have been dismissed. The claim for service connection for sleep disorder has been reopened, as well as the claims for chest tightness with muscle spasms and short term memory loss.

The Board has remanded several claims due to the need for additional evidence and examination, including service connection claims and a rating claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability has been reopened, and the issue of service connection for prostate cancer is dismissed. The issues of service connection for left upper extremity, right upper extremity, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's left eye disability is not related to service, and hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) is attributed to a 2011 electrocution incident.,Hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred therein.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) is not related to his service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease. The highest rating possible for the right knee condition is 60 percent.,Service connection for a left hip disability and/or left knee disability are remanded as they may be secondary to the service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, began during his active service. As a result, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a substance abuse disability was reopened, but the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depressive disorder) remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar strain.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding private treatment records from Franklin Square Medical Center and other facilities. The Veteran is responsible for providing these records.