Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development, including obtaining VA records from the Birmingham VAMC and determining whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen previously denied claims of service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and alcohol use disorder. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied. The issues of service connection for OSA and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD are remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected peptic ulcer disease. His respiratory condition, claimed as asthma, remains denied.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and eligibility for the purchase of an automobile and adaptive equipment, or adaptive equipment only. The remaining issues were remanded.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of October 14, 2004 for the grant of service connection for dysthymia with somatic features and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for his acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and adjustment disorder, is denied. The Board also remanded the issue of a rating greater than 70 percent for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and adjustment disorder with anxiety) have been granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability has been reopened, but the evidence does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis. The claims for left knee and bilateral hearing loss are remanded for further examination and opinion. Service connection for the claimed conditions is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disorder. The decision is based on evidence showing that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service back pain.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for residuals of lumbar spine injury, bilateral leg disability, bilateral knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disability. The claims are all denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and mental health disorders. The specific issues include fibromyalgia, left shoulder condition, left side back condition, cervical spine condition, left hand muscle failure, hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, total abdominal hysterectomy, skin condition, headaches (including as secondary to seizures), carpal tunnel syndromes, seizures (to include as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder), memory loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board also requested additional evidence related to the Veteran's claims for service connection based on personal assault.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability, or a link between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The claim of service connection for a neck disorder is reopened and remanded. The claims for back and acquired psychiatric disorders are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, ischemic heart disease, kidney cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, radiculopathy of both hands and lower extremities, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and tinnitus. The new evidence submitted since the June 2018 SOC will be considered.

The Board has decided that the appellant does not have a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied service connection for this condition. The other issues on appeal are remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for elevated cholesterol due to the absence of a current disability. The remaining issues (epilepsy, acquired psychiatric disability, hypertension, right shoulder disability, sleep apnea, tinnitus, and low back disability) are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The appeal has been dismissed for the claims of glaucoma, hypertension and diabetes mellitus. The remaining claims of arthritis, right knee total knee replacement, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now granted. The left lower extremity radiculopathy is found to be related to the service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, and he is now entitled to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified trauma- and stressor-related disorder and PTSD with secondary alcohol and cocaine use disorders.