Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Board has found that a remand is necessary to ensure due process and a complete record for the Veteran's claims of service connection for contact dermatitis and neuropsychiatric condition, including anxiety, as secondary to contact dermatitis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to issues related to white matter brain disease, migraine headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The remand includes additional development such as obtaining VA treatment records, requesting copies of ship logs, and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded three issues: service connection for schizophrenia, effective date for PTSD with major depressive disorder and DEA eligibility. The case is returned to the AOJ for further action.

Your claims for service connection have been granted for several conditions, including tinnitus, traumatic brain injury, PTSD, left ear hearing loss, and acquired psychiatric disorders. However, your claims for cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, peripheral neuropathies of the lower extremities, and right arm disorder are still pending and will require further examination and evaluation.,Your service connection requests have been granted for tinnitus, traumatic brain injury, PTSD, left ear hearing loss, and acquired psychiatric disorders. However, your cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, peripheral neuropathies of the lower extremities, and right arm disorder claims are still pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with obtaining relevant records and concerns about VA's compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA). The Veteran may have had a psychiatric examination while stationed in Germany, but no records from this location were found. The claim will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the submission of additional VA medical records since May 2016. These issues will be reconsidered with these new records included.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for SMC based on aid and attendance/housebound, finding that there was no factual evidence to support a need for regular aid and attendance prior to December 3, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disabilities are not related to his military service, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for left ear hearing loss and an increased rating for paranoid schizophrenia due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded as the Board cannot make a fully-informed decision without addressing whether her gynecological conditions and hepatic cysts clearly and unmistakably preexisted service, and if so, whether they were clearly and unmistakably aggravated by service.,The Veteran is also being asked to provide information about any private medical treatment she has received for these issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder was denied. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for rheumatoid arthritis of the wrists, hands, left ankle, right ankle, left knee, and right knee were all denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been dismissed as the claim was withdrawn by her representative.

The Veteran's Meniere’s disease is related to in-service noise exposure and service connection for this condition is granted. The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to service connected sleep apnea, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and Meniere’s disease, is remanded due to the need for an adequate examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, hepatitis B, and mental disorder are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further examination and review.

The Board has dismissed the claims for earlier effective dates and granted a separate rating of 20 percent for left knee locking. The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is remanded. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disabilities are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and requests for additional information. The Veteran's representative reported SSA disability benefits, but SSA records have not been obtained.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of bronchitis, left index finger disability, chronic fatigue syndrome, or acquired psychiatric disability. The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any such conditions during his military service.,As a result, the claims for service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for a right scapula shell fragment wound was denied. A separate evaluation of 10 percent for the same condition in Muscle Group I was granted. The appeal for erectile dysfunction was withdrawn by the Veteran. The appeal for prostate cancer and left ilio-inguinal nerve disability were both denied. An evaluation of 70 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The appeals are now remanded to determine if these conditions are related to service.