Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, has been reopened. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim. However, further development is needed as a supplemental VA opinion is required regarding whether his current mood disorder due to general medical condition is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (diagnosed as a trauma-related disorder) is granted service connection. The initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. Service connection for hypertension is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including diabetes, glaucoma, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, CAD/IHD, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The remand includes efforts to corroborate the Veteran’s exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Japan.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and bipolar disorder), and headaches. Service connection was denied for hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran will need a new examination to determine if he has PTSD or an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, and whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and need for a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and seizures, to include as secondary to TBI. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence linking his current conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for pes planus was withdrawn. The claims for PTSD, back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, hypertension, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction were all denied due to lack of credible evidence supporting the claimed conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) due to insufficient medical opinions and additional development is needed.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability. The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea on a secondary basis.

The Board is unable to decide the claim for education benefits under Chapter 33 because it is intertwined with a pending service connection claim. The case is remanded and will be adjudicated again once the service connection claim has been resolved.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional records and a new VA opinion regarding the Veteran's mental health disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an examination to address the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder, and TBI residuals. The neck disorder claim is denied as new and material evidence was not received.

The Veteran's claim for service connection was reopened due to new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for PTSD, but denied for other conditions including brain tumor, lung cancer, prostate cancer, and hemithyroidectomy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), a heart disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and a chronic sleep disability. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for dependency benefits for his daughter, S.D., is remanded due to the inextricability of this matter with other claims involving disability ratings and service connection. The claims will be adjudicated together.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal as he died during its pendency.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and reopening of a claim for back injury, as well as the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD). The Veteran's private psychologist provided an opinion that his personality disorder may be superimposed upon another diagnosed condition. Additionally, outstanding SSA records and private treatment records are needed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, but has remanded it due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether his current psychiatric condition is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The claim is now reopened and will be reviewed on its merits.,The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for multiple sclerosis (MS) is denied. No new and material evidence has been received within a year of the November 2014 decision.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy is denied as there is no evidence that it was incurred in or aggravated by service or a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus prior to September 7, 2016 is denied. The maximum schedular rating available (10%) has been assigned.,No effective date prior to September 7, 2016 for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted as the evidence does not meet the criteria.