Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Board has dismissed the appeals for tinnitus and hernia disability as the Veteran requested withdrawal of these issues. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate reasons or bases in its previous decision. The Veteran's attorney provided additional evidence and argued that his psychiatric, headache, and sleep disabilities are related to service-connected conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, 'back' disability, right ankle degenerative changes, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and migraine headaches. The claims are granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, gout, residuals of meningitis, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, schizophrenia, memory loss and diminishing capacity), staph infection (to include various skin disorders), hypertension, loss of eyesight in one eye, residuals of frostbite, ingrown toenails, and loss of teeth, are not service-connected as they were not caused by or related to active service.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's bipolar disorder was not related to his active service and there is no evidence of a qualifying psychosis.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a dental disability is denied. The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, anxiety, and depression are granted.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a skin condition of the feet and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, were denied as there was no evidence showing that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including right knee disability, skin disability, low back disability with sciatica, acquired psychiatric disability (bipolar disorder), and left wrist disability. The decision found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia, previously claimed as nervous condition, is reopened due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development including a medical opinion on whether the schizophrenia was aggravated by an in-service bullying incident.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for shin splints, nerve damage to her left hip and lower extremity, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not show a chronic disability for which VA may award compensation.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further examination and medical opinion regarding the appellant's mental health at the time of his misconduct offenses.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD; for a higher evaluation for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss; and for TDIU due to service-connected disability. The Veteran is required to complete a VA Form 21-0781 to provide details of his claimed stressors, and he must be provided with a VA examination to determine if he has PTSD and whether it is related to service. His claims are also remanded for the provision of any outstanding medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, left leg pain, right leg pain, and an acquired psychiatric disorder as there was no probative evidence linking these conditions to his period of active duty training or service.

The Board has granted service connection for TBI and remanded the issues of service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and sleep apnea.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disorder and psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to incomplete STRs, lack of VA examination, and need for additional evidence. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records, particularly from correctional facilities and inpatient treatment at a military hospital in Germany. The Veteran's mental health conditions are being investigated further.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and alcoholism is granted. The claims for left shoulder disability, vision problems, hearing loss, and diabetes mellitus are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a headache disability and an acquired psychiatric disability (including depression and alcohol dependence) have been granted.,The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss, vertigo, sleep apnea, residuals of traumatic brain injury, forehead scar status post laceration, and painful forehead scar status post laceration are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a back condition, eye condition, tinnitus, gastrointestinal disorder, migraine headaches, restless leg syndrome, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims that these conditions were related to his military service.