Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection to include an acquired psychiatric disorder, low back condition, upper back condition, neck condition, and cataracts has been granted. The claims for the low back and upper back conditions are denied due to insufficient evidence of onset or relationship to service. The claims for the neck and cataracts conditions are also denied as there is no evidence showing their onset in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was reopened due to new evidence. The claims for left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, fibromyalgia, eye disability (blurred vision), bilateral hearing loss disability, respiratory disability (COPD, lung condition with patch), sleep apnea, prostate disability, tension headaches, and acquired psychiatric disorder were all denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, which includes detailed accounts of his stressor event and a VA psychologist's opinion linking PTSD to service. The claim will be re-evaluated based on all available evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for GERD. The claims for BHL, cholecystitis, chronic, DM, lumbar disability (secondary to left knee disability), heart disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, and right knee disability are all remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding insufficient evidence to link these conditions to military service.,Service connection was also not granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, nightmare disorder, and insomnia disorder), as the Veteran's contentions were not supported by medical evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as new and material evidence has been received. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and psychiatric disability (claimed as depression and PTSD).

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various disabilities, including low back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, right hand disability, neck disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, bilateral pes planus, erectile dysfunction, sleep-related disability (presumed to be sleep apnea), acquired psychiatric disability, heart disability, residuals of a stroke, hypertension, hiatal hernia, and gastrointestinal disability. The remand requires additional development including obtaining federal records from the Social Security Administration, scheduling an examination for the low back disability, and determining the nature and etiology of hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a heart disability were denied, as the evidence did not show these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service. The cause of death was also denied because there was no evidence linking any diagnosed disabilities to his period of service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and remanded the issues of sleep apnea syndromes and prostate cancer due to in-service exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of an examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is related to his service. The VA needs to schedule the Veteran for an examination to assess his current condition and its etiology.

The Board has denied service connection for the residuals of a right foot injury and remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder on a secondary basis to his service-connected fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations. The right knee, high cholesterol, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, low back disability, circulatory system disability (other than hypertension), and psychiatric disability (other than delusional disorder) issues remain under review.

The appeals for service connection and increased ratings for hearing loss, left ankle sprain residuals, bilateral neurologic disability (including carpal tunnel syndrome), and an acquired psychiatric disorder are dismissed. The case is remanded for additional examinations to determine the relationship between current disabilities and service.

The Board has remanded multiple claims, including service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, acid reflux with hiatal hernia, acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD), and left shoulder disorder. The remand also includes obtaining VA medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left hip and right hip disorders, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.,The Veteran's service connection claim for a left lower extremity radiculopathy is also being remanded. Additionally, his requests for earlier effective dates for both low back disorder and left lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded as well.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to insufficient evidence or need for additional development. The effective date of benefits is not addressed in this decision.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, diabetes, and psychiatric disability are inextricably intertwined. The case is being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and arrange for a VA medical opinion to assess the likely etiology of the Veteran’s erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that any such disability was incurred in or aggravated by service.,Service connection for left ankle disability prior to July 8, 2013 is denied as the Veteran's symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating.