Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions regarding his knee disabilities, psychiatric disorder, and hearing loss.

The Veteran's service records do not show any diagnosis of Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) or Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Right Neck. The Board finds that there is no current disability for IHD and denies this claim.,Regarding Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Right Neck, the Veteran was diagnosed in 2009 but has not had any recurrence since treatment. The Board does not find evidence to support a connection between Agent Orange exposure and the cancer.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as anxiety disorder, is granted. The claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, to include upper respiratory infection, sinusitis and/or bronchitis (upper respiratory disorder), is reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Secondary service connection claims for hypertension, vertigo, and GERD are also remanded.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral pes planus, and a bilateral knee disability. The remaining issues are REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a heart disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD have been dismissed. The appeal concerning his back disability has been remanded, as well as the bilateral leg disability and sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of combined effects opinion on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his employability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, has been granted. The secondary service connection claim for the acquired psychiatric disorder due to bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and/or perforation of the tympanic membrane of the left ear is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and acquired psychiatric disability have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional VA examination and evaluation of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically schizophrenia.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a psychiatric disability (claimed as depression and sleep disorder) have been denied. The Board found no evidence to support the claim that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for cardiomegaly, hepatosplenomegaly, and deviated septum were dismissed as the Veteran withdrew these issues.,Tinnitus was granted service connection based on in-service noise exposure and current symptomatology.,An acquired psychiatric disability (depression) was granted service connection due to in-service experiences and post-deployment health re-assessment reports.,Allergic rhinitis was granted service connection based on in-service symptoms and current diagnosis.,Hypertension was granted service connection as it began during active duty, with evidence of elevated blood pressure readings.,Varicocele was granted service connection due to a left varicocele noted at separation and subsequent CT scan showing the condition.,A skin disability (eczema and cellulitis) was granted service connection based on in-service rashes and current diagnosis.,Gastrointestinal disability (hiatal hernia and diverticulosis) was granted service connection due to symptoms beginning during active duty.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 30 percent for right leg disability was dismissed. The claim for service connection for PTSD has been denied and is final. New evidence received since the denial does not raise a possibility of substantiating the claim. A rating of 50 percent for an acquired psychiatric disability (other than PTSD) is granted, effective from December 11, 2012. The reduction in rating for lumbar spine disability was improper and restored the original 20 percent rating. The appeal for TDIU is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (claimed as an eye condition), peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower and upper extremities, left shoulder disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, and sleep apnea.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including paranoid personality disorder and paranoid schizophrenia, finding no evidence of such disorders during or as a result of his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary due to the unavailability of service treatment records and the need for further verification of in-service stressors related to PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left knee disability, bilateral eye disability, sleep apnea, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, or acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and to schedule the Veteran for a new psychiatric examination.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including low back disability, bilateral foot disabilities, sinusitis, ulcer, skin cancer, and acquired psychiatric disorders. The decision also notes that the Veteran's hip arthritis is not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded several claims, including those for service connection and rating evaluations. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claims of bilateral hearing loss, gastric cancer, arrhythmia, high cholesterol, liver cancer, chloracne, and a psychiatric disorder (depression) are being addressed again.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of current disabilities. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was remanded due to insufficient rationale in the VA examination.,Service connection is denied for tinnitus as there is no competent evidence of a current disability. Service connection is also denied for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of hearing loss within one year after service and it is less likely related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a thyroid condition due to asbestos exposure and an acquired psychiatric condition (PTSD) as there is insufficient evidence on record.