Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The lower back disability claim is being remanded because of an inadequate VA examination, while the psychiatric disorder and hearing loss claims are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for bilateral pes planus and right ear hearing loss, as there is no evidence of such conditions in his service records or post-service medical records. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and PTSD) will be remanded to obtain additional information regarding the claimed stressor.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to her in-service motor vehicle accident, and for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and lumbar spine DJD. The claims are being returned to VA for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, a headache disability (due to PTSD), diabetes mellitus, lumbar spine disability, sleep disability, prostate disability, and psychiatric disability other than PTSD.

The Veteran's leukemia is granted as presumptively related to herbicide exposure during service in Thailand. The earlier effective date for the cervical spine fusion surgical scar is granted.,Service connection for PTSD is granted based on a positive nexus between the condition and the Veteran's diagnosed leukemia.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding no credible evidence of in-service disease or injury and that his accounts were outweighed by other evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for high cholesterol is denied as it is a laboratory finding and not a disease or disability under VA law.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity, secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, is denied due to lack of current diagnosis.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity, secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, is denied due to lack of current diagnosis.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for his acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD, major depressive disorder, anxiety, and somatoform disorder) is denied as there are no current symptoms that meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, is denied as there is no evidence of secondary service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The claims for sleep disorder, heart condition, skin condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, a cardiac disability, and a psychiatric disorder other than anxiety are not granted. The cases have been remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine appropriate ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including post-traumatic stress disorder. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy in his upper and lower extremities have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, has been reopened.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, lower back disability, and bilateral knee disabilities. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disorder, including COPD and bullous emphysema, due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to active service.,Service connection was also denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder (Bipolar Disorder) as there is no credible evidence that it began during or was related to military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new and material evidence received. The case is now remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as PTSD, is granted service connection. Service connection for diverticulitis and colonic polyps is denied. The Veteran's hemorrhoids are assigned a 10 percent rating prior to January 9, 2013, with no higher ratings considered warranted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a neurological disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder were denied. The Board found that the disorders did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and there was no evidence linking them to service.

The Veteran was granted service connection for eczematous dermatitis and a rating of 70 percent for his psychiatric disability effective September 11, 2017. He received TDIU beginning that date.

The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder is granted.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Veteran's bladder condition secondary to prostate cancer is also granted.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral hip disability, back disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (to include anxiety and depression).,Entitlement to nonservice-connected pension was also denied.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his military service, while left ear hearing loss and PTSD are not. The Veteran was granted service connection for right ear hearing loss but denied for left ear hearing loss and PTSD.