Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle arthritis (gout), left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative joint disease, bilateral eye disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision was based on a lack of in-service diagnosis or treatment for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, has been reopened. The restoration of the 10 percent rating for post-operative release trigger finger is granted.,The Veteran’s left upper extremity radiculopathy with numbness remains at a 20 percent evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed TAD assignment in Vietnam and his current PTSD diagnosis. The case will be reviewed again with these additional records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further evaluation and clarification of several issues, including service connection for various conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the aggravation of right carpal tunnel syndrome by a service-connected right ulnar nerve disability, but denied service connection for psychiatric disability secondary to service-connected ulnar nerve disability and temporary total rating for convalescence following treatment of a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the VA examination conducted in December 2017 is incomplete and requires an addendum to consider both DSM-IV and DSM-V criteria for diagnosing PTSD or other acquired psychiatric disorders. The issues of service connection for substance abuse, hepatitis C (as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder), and hepatitis C (as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder and substance abuse) are also remanded due to their inextricable ties with the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee disability, depression, and erectile dysfunction due to incomplete examinations and insufficient opinions.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, bilateral leg condition, bilateral ankle condition, respiratory disability, and psychiatric disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for asthma and an acquired psychiatric condition including generalized anxiety disorder due to incomplete service records, particularly regarding his National Guard/Reserve service. The claims will be reviewed again with additional information.

The Veteran's schizophrenia was granted a rating of 70% disabling from August 21, 2006 to March 7, 2013. The appeal is not about service connection but rather the assignment and adjustment of disability ratings.

The Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as right total knee replacement, is granted as secondary to service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has granted reconsideration of the service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that new and material evidence supports reopening the claim. The appellant's lay statements are not competent to establish a direct link between his current psychiatric condition and service, but the Board grants service connection based on reopening due to new evidence.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is related to service, and whether it is proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus. The case is being remanded for additional examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding no in-service injury, disease, event or corroborated stressor that may be attributed to the Veteran's current diagnoses.

Service connection is granted for type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy as secondary to type II diabetes mellitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. Service connection is denied for residuals of traumatic brain injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that new and material evidence had not been received. The Veteran was previously denied because the evidence did not show that his pre-existing psychiatric condition was aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and anxiety disorder was granted. Service connection was also granted for tinnitus, but denied for multiple fractures in hands and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder are related to his military service, including fear of hostile military or terrorist activity. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder and his request for a rating in excess of 40 percent for bilateral hearing loss were denied. The appeal was also remanded for consideration of entitlement to total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's multiple disabilities are being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding their etiology, as the current evidence is insufficient to determine if they are related to her exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during active service.