Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder was denied, but he received a grant of TDIU effective February 1, 2009.

The Veteran's GERD is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected condition.,The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is being remanded due to the need for a supplemental medical opinion considering in-service exposures and ongoing symptoms.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is being remanded as there may be an issue with verifying exposure to herbicide agents during service. The AOJ should verify whether the USS Coral Sea was within the 12-nautical-mile territorial sea of Vietnam while the Veteran was aboard.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is being remanded for a supplemental medical opinion considering his asserted in-service exposure to herbicide agents.,The Veteran's skin disability is being remanded for a supplemental medical opinion addressing whether it is related to bare-skin exposure to jet fuel during service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and a mood disorder) is being remanded as there may be issues with verifying in-service stressors. The AOJ should attempt to corroborate the Veteran's reported stressors involving witnessing the death of a fellow serviceman aboard the USS Coral Sea during the '1967 cruise'.,The Veteran's sleep apnea, hypertension, hiatal hernia, and erectile dysfunction are being remanded as secondary to his claimed acquired psychiatric disorder. The AOJ should attempt to obtain VA treatment records from Portland VAMC for the period between 1970 and 2002.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for updated VA audiological examination records, which may provide evidence of a worsening disorder.,The Veteran's ear infection disability is being remanded as there may be issues with obtaining relevant private treatment records. The AOJ should attempt to obtain these records and complete any necessary requests.

The Board has determined that an effective date prior to November 13, 2006, for the award of a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity disability is not warranted.,An effective date of September 1, 2005, but no earlier, for the award of a 40 percent rating for left upper extremity disability has been granted.,An effective date of February 13, 2006, for the award of a 30 percent rating for psychiatric disability (now characterized as a psychiatric disability) is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including chronic paranoid schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. The case is remanded to determine if PTSD or other psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records from his Reserve service. The AOJ must obtain and associate any missing records, including those from Fort Polk, Louisiana, and Social Security Administration disability benefit records. They should also consider the Veteran's ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA service periods.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded due to new and material evidence received. The case is also remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed mental health condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that there was no competent medical evidence to support a diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric condition. The Board concluded that the Veteran did not have a current disability and her symptoms were related to bereavement following the death of her husband.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for visual acuity impairment, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and sleep apnea syndrome due to new evidence submitted since the July 2008 rating decision. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, finding that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or causal relationship to her active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for PTSD and application to reopen a claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD due to issues with verifying in-service stressors and obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and verifying PTSD stressors. The VA will also schedule examinations to assess the current severity of his thoracolumbar spine disability and other claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a disability manifested by malaise, heart disorder, diabetes mellitus, neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have all been denied.,Service connection has not been established for any of these conditions on a direct basis due to lack of evidence showing their onset during active duty service or being related to such service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection are being remanded due to the complexity of the issues.,Service connection has not been granted for an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness due to exposures in the Gulf War.

The Veteran's service connection for multiple sclerosis is granted, while his claims for hypertension and other conditions are denied. The lumbar spine disability remains at a 10% rating.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of a back disability. The neck, bilateral hip, bilateral knee, and bilateral elbow disabilities were denied as not incurred in or due to service. Service connection was granted for sleep apnea and headaches, but denied for acquired psychiatric disorder.

The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is reopened, but the bilateral foot condition claim remains denied. The case is remanded to consider the merits of both claims.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating due to incomplete medical records, lack of a full rationale in the previous VA examination, and new arguments regarding his left ankle disorder. The issues include psychiatric disorders, lumbosacral spine disorders, left knee disorders, left ankle disorders, right knee disorders, and TDIU.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and tinnitus have been granted service connection, with a 60% rating for the heart disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, hypertension, and psychiatric disability have been granted service connection. The effective date for the grant of a 30 percent rating for CAD is set at March 20, 2018.