Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability caused his obesity, and if so, whether this obesity was a substantial factor in causing his OSA.

The Board has remanded the claims for ischemic heart disease, residuals of appendix removal, and acquired psychiatric disability due to insufficient evidence regarding current diagnoses.

The Veteran's claims have been remanded due to the need for additional development and examination, particularly regarding his service connection requests. The issues include service connection for various disabilities including hepatitis C, heart, kidney, lung, back, and psychiatric disorders.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting medical evidence and the need for a new VA examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, is being reviewed again.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on February 15, 2013 for a broken nose were denied as the treatment was not for an emergent condition and no VA facility was feasibly available.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development and consideration, including obtaining medical records, conducting examinations, and addressing service connection issues.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for schizoaffective disorder (psychiatric disability) is denied as there was no indication of intent to file a compensation claim prior to August 2011, and the previous decisions were final.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, lower back disorder, TBI residuals, migraine headaches, PTSD, and acquired psychiatric condition to include anxiety and depression are not related to service. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left hand tingling and numbness, headache disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder (posttraumatic stress disorder) due to secondary effects of service-connected post-operative residuals of left shoulder dislocation.,Specifically, the VA examiner was requested to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's pre-existing conditions were aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. A 20 percent rating is assigned for right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral knee conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is being remanded for further development to verify a reported stressor.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen his service connection claim for tinnitus was denied. His claim for a compensable rating for tension headaches is also denied. The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for psychiatric disabilities and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but has remanded it for further development and examination. The Board also remanded the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder is rated at 10% prior to March 20, 2013 and denied for a higher rating. From March 20, 2013 to May 25, 2016, the rating is 30%. From May 26, 2016 to January 24, 2018, the rating is 50%, but denied for a higher rating. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating from January 25, 2018 is also denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depressive disorders, is related to his service in Vietnam. The Board finds that the probative evidence of record is at least in equipoise on the factors of service incurrence and nexus, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's low back disability is not service-connected as it did not manifest during or within one year after service and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology.,Bilateral hearing loss was not shown for VA purposes, thus the claim is denied.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on credible supporting evidence that the Veteran experienced acoustic trauma in service and has had constant ringing in his ears since then.,The acquired psychiatric disability (likely PTSD) is granted as there is a link between current symptoms and an in-service stressor, supported by lay testimony.

The Board has remanded several claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining audiometric test results and determining whether the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service.,The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) is also being remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including type II diabetes mellitus and psychiatric disorders, were denied as the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his military service or exposure to environmental toxins at Fort McClellan, Alabama.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of March 2, 2010 for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The Board found that the Veteran filed to reopen his previously denied claim on March 2, 2010 and thus he is entitled to this effective date.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and requests for additional information from the Veteran, including private treatment records and SSA disability benefits records. The VA will also obtain updated VA treatment records.