Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for a restoration of the 10 percent rating for service-connected residuals scars of the right heel from March 1, 2015 is granted. The application to reopen a claim for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is also granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include PTSD, bilateral ankle/knee disorders, tinnitus, headaches, and low back disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The issues include an acquired psychiatric disorder, a dental disorder, a noncompensable dental disorder, headaches secondary to dental disorder, and sinus infection secondary to dental disorder.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection of a low back disability and remanded the issue due to new evidence received. The psychiatric disorder claim is also being remanded as there are inconsistencies in the medical records regarding the onset and nature of the Veteran's psychiatric symptoms.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD due to a lack of current diagnosis in accordance with DSM-V criteria. The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is remanded as VA medical opinion is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional VA medical records. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered with these new records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining in-patient treatment records from Ft. Huachuca and SSA disability records.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for right wrist condition, bilateral knee conditions, and acquired psychiatric disorder were denied. The cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine conditions are also denied.

The Board denied the petitions to reopen claims for service connection for residuals of gunshot wound and schizophrenia due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board found that the symptoms do not warrant a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including residuals of a broken left fifth finger, low back disability, bilateral hip disabilities, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and psychiatric disability are all granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain and psychiatric disorder have been granted service connection. The right ankle sprain is rated at 20 percent, while the psychiatric disorder has a rating of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, hypogonadism (claimed as low testosterone), type 2 diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, and irritable bowel syndrome is granted. The issues of service connection for a sleep disorder to include sleep apnea and an initial rating greater than 10 percent for irritable bowel syndrome are remanded.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis for residuals of a head injury, sleep apnea, gastrointestinal disorder, or acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, MDD, and anxiety). The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and an acquired psychiatric disability (including posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression) due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for schizophrenia, finding that it did not pre-exist and was not aggravated during the appellant's period of active duty training (ACDUTRA) from January 1978 to April 1978. The Board also found no new evidence submitted since the last denial.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lung disorder, coronary artery disease, liver disorder, and psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, and a liver disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran needs to be provided with VA examinations for each condition.