Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder was denied, as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection for right and left knee conditions were also denied. The Veteran's right and left knee conditions are not considered secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disorder or related to any in-service injury.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and an initial compensable evaluation for asbestosis. The case is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records, including PFT results.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asbestosis, hepatitis C, diabetes mellitus type II (diabetes), and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to incomplete notification of prior decisions and need for additional development.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound, which the VA has determined was caused by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and Depression, is related to his service. The VA will need to provide a medical opinion on these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA medical examination and further review of Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's appeals regarding cataracts, upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and service connection for a psychiatric disorder were dismissed. The appeal for service connection for the variously diagnosed psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) was granted. The appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus is remanded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for psychiatric disorder, low back disorder, and diverticulitis were denied. The effective date for the award of service connection for a psychiatric disorder was not earlier than June 3, 2003.

The Veteran is not competent to handle disbursement of VA funds due to his mental health condition, specifically chronic schizophrenia.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened and granted. The Board found that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s current tinnitus had its inception during a period of active service, thus granting service connection. Service connection was also granted for bilateral knee disability based on continuity of symptomatology since service. The psychiatric claim remains pending.

The Veteran's low back condition is now rated at 40 percent effective September 4, 2013.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as schizophrenia, is granted service connection because it was caused or aggravated by his period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA).

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining inpatient treatment records from Brooke Army Medical Center and Darnall Army Medical Center, notifying the Veteran that his records from California Men’s Colony do not exist, and providing an addendum opinion addressing the Veteran's statements of mental instability during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeals for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, heart disorder, neck disability, back disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to procedural issues and the need for further development of his service records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability is reopened, and the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability secondary to his left knee degenerative arthritis is remanded. The issue of entitlement to an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and MDD) is also remanded.

The Board denied the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's preexisting acquired psychiatric disorder was not aggravated beyond its natural progression during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issues of service connection for a psychiatric disability and lumbar spine disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to ambiguities in the opinions provided and the need for further clarification regarding the nature of Huntington's disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied due to lack of evidence related to the honorable period of service. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, including PTSD, has been reopened and granted on the merits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and new allegations of in-service trauma.