Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for vein problems, blood poisoning, feet blisters, and giant cell bone tumor of the right radius are denied as there is no current diagnosis associated with these conditions during the appeal period.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder) is remanded due to the interrelated nature of the issues.

The Veteran's Meniere’s syndrome had an onset during service and is granted.,Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression) is remanded due to the need for verification of stressors and psychological trauma experienced during service.,Service connection for Sjogren's syndrome is remanded due to the need for verification of participation in a classified program during service.,Service connection for Hashimoto's syndrome is remanded due to the need for verification of participation in a classified program during service.,Service connection for Raynaud’s syndrome is remanded due to the need for verification of participation in a classified program during service.,Service connection for avascular necrosis and cognitive tissue disease is remanded due to the need for verification of participation in a classified program during service.,Service connection for residuals from brain surgery is remanded due to the need for verification of participation in a classified program during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than somatic symptom disorder with predominant pain with panic attacks was denied. The effective date of the grant of service connection for somatic symptom disorder with predominate pain with panic attacks is set at February 28, 2012.,The Veteran's claim for earlier effective dates for various benefits were also denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records and a formal finding from JSRRC regarding stressful events during service. A VA examination is also required to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, as it has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been granted, and the cases are remanded for further development to obtain STRs and SPRs. The claims of service connection for residuals of an appendectomy, variously diagnosed psychiatric disability (to include PTSD), diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and respiratory disability are all being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear for a VA psychiatric examination. The Veteran is requested to provide information about any healthcare providers who have treated his acquired psychiatric disorder and to verify his current mailing address.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete STRs and insufficient medical opinions. The issues include sinusitis, neck disorder, back disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, bilateral eye disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, heart disability (coronary atherosclerosis), left ankle disorder, and left foot disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is reopened, and the case is remanded for a VA examination to assess the etiology of his condition.

The Board has reopened the claims for lower back, left eye, and bilateral hand conditions due to new evidence. The right eye condition, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder), and headache condition are all remanded for further review.

The Veteran's initial rating for right knee disability prior to September 29, 2014 was denied. A separate initial rating of 10 percent for right knee instability from December 9, 2010 to April 12, 2016 was granted. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder was reopened due to new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted in full. The remaining issues of service connection for a back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including posttraumatic stress disorder and depression) are dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection.,VA denied service connection for a back disorder because there was no evidence of arthritis within one year after separation from service, and VA found that the Veteran's current low back condition is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder), and a right knee condition have been dismissed due to the absence of NODs with the assigned ratings. The claim for a right knee condition is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new psychiatric examination.

Service connection granted for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD.,Service connection granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to service-connected hearing loss.

The application to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disability was denied.,The application to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) was granted, but the claim remains pending as it is still under consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether it was incurred during active duty due to noise exposure. However, there is no evidence of a current psychiatric disability.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability was denied because there is no competent medical evidence showing the Veteran has had such a condition at any point during or near the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his respiratory disorders, psychiatric disorder (PTSD), heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy. Additional development is needed including obtaining medical opinions on the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including service connection for various psychiatric and physical conditions. The Veteran's claim is also being recharacterized to include any acquired psychiatric disorder.