Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar disorder has been reopened and granted. The claims for service connection for a back disability, deviated septum, acquired psychiatric disability (including depression), left arm tumor, right arm tumor, left knee strain, and right knee strain are all remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals of service connection for a chronic lower neck disability, vision impairment, ear infections, and headaches have been dismissed. The appeal of service connection for functional gastrointestinal disturbance and an acquired psychiatric disorder has been remanded.

The Veteran's lung disability, skin cancer, brain aneurysms and their residuals, and psychiatric disabilities are all remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to service or any other relevant factors.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to the Veteran not having hearing loss for VA purposes. The claims for service connection of other conditions are remanded as there is insufficient evidence and a need for further examination.

The Board has remanded four issues: service connection for a back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, drug abuse, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD).

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for schizophrenia due to complications with the regulatory changes over time. The case will be reviewed under all relevant regulations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability affecting the feet and groin, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD), are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The VA needs to schedule additional examinations to address the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms during service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (to include paranoid schizophrenia and polysubstance abuse disorder) and low back stenosis have been granted. The issues regarding the initial ratings for cervical stenosis, left upper extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder disability, left hip arthritis, right hip arthritis, hearing loss, and hypertension are being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to outstanding medical records and additional development is needed.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, low back disability, and cervical spine disability. The RO denied these claims previously but new evidence has been submitted that relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claims.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is rated at 100% since June 8, 2010. The effective date for this rating has not been established.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The case will be returned to allow a VA examiner to review the file and determine if the Veteran has a psychiatric disorder related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding an in-service assault and its impact on the Veteran's psychiatric condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing documents and a need to rebuild his claims file. The issues include lumbar, thoracic, cervical, right knee, erectile dysfunction, headaches (claimed as cephalgia), left hand disability, right hand disability, paresthesia of upper extremities, sciatic pain in lower extremities, and an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's RLE radiculopathy is now rated at 20 percent effective from February 15, 2018. Other conditions remain unchanged.

The Board denied service connection for OSA, tachycardia, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), residuals of a shrapnel wound to the head, and a right knee disability. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were otherwise related to in-service injuries or diseases.,The Board found no indication of any current disabilities for OSA, tachycardia, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), residuals of a shrapnel wound to the head, and a right knee disability. The Veteran's statements regarding these conditions were not credible.

The Board has decided to remand two issues: service connection for a fungal condition and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and an adjustment disorder. Further development is needed as VA treatment records are required, the stressor must be verified, and opinions on etiology need to be provided.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, erectile dysfunction secondary to hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric condition due to incomplete service treatment records and lack of supporting medical evidence. The claims will be further developed with additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for prostate cancer has been dismissed.,The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, cervical spine disability, and right shoulder disability have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.

The Board has found that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in need for aid and attendance or render him housebound. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.