Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia, is granted. His migraine headaches are granted a 50% rating. The hearing loss claim is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for migraine headaches and depression have been reopened, with service connection granted.,Service connection was denied for sinusitis. The Veteran's headaches were found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity was denied. The Board also found that there is insufficient evidence to determine if service connection should be granted for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder. Both issues are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence did not establish a link between the Veteran's current symptoms and his military service. The claim was based on allegations of in-service sexual assault, but these were not corroborated by other sources.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's heart disability and psychiatric disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The claims are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions.

The Board has dismissed the claims of entitlement to effective dates earlier than June 7, 2016 for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss disability. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD and schizophrenia) is remanded for further development including a VA examination. His claim for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss disability remains denied.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability and an acquired psychiatric disability, as there is no probative evidence of current disabilities.,Service connection was granted for bilateral knee disabilities with separate ratings for the right and left meniscal disabilities. The Veteran received a compensable rating for his right knee scar and a 20 percent rating for tinnitus.

The Veteran's left cubital tunnel syndrome is granted as service connected. The issues of service connection for left hip strain, right eye glaucoma, bilateral hearing loss, sinus condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to incomplete records and conflicting medical opinions. The cases are being returned for further development, including obtaining SSA records, VA treatment records, and additional examinations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including deviated septum, broken nose, loss of smell, difficulty breathing, an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD, anxiety, depression), diverticulitis, bilateral knees, and bilateral ankles. The Veteran will be scheduled for examinations to address these issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including lumbar spine disorder, left-leg residuals of broken leg, right-knee disorder, right-ankle disorder, left-ankle disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hiatal hernia disorder, right-lower-extremity radiculopathy, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression) are not service-connected.

Service connection is granted for right foot gout.,Service connection is granted for a bilateral knee condition secondary to service-connected hip conditions.,Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) secondary to service-connected degenerative disc disease with IVDS and lumbar facet degenerative arthrosis and chronic lumbar pain syndrome claimed as lower back condition.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus.,Remand is required for further evaluation of a right thigh disability.,Remand is required for further evaluation of a respiratory condition.,Remand is required to obtain private treatment records and determine the relationship between any kidney conditions (including erectile dysfunction or Peyronie's Disease) and service.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection to include PTSD and remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened and granted.,Service connection was denied for a bilateral foot disability, sleep apnea, and left shoulder disability. The back disability case is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened. The appeal is granted in part, with the new evidence raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. Appeals for increased ratings and remand are issued for various musculoskeletal conditions.

The Board denied service connection for HIV, depression, hypertension, and headaches as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD. The decision now requires further development and examination.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, and entitlement to a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) are remanded due to the need to consider both former and current rating criteria.