Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, hypertension, ED, sleep apnea, and unspecified sleep disorders have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the required criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD or any of these conditions.,Service connection was denied as there is no medical evidence showing a current diagnosis of PTSD or any of the other conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a rating of 70 percent or higher for PTSD has been granted. The other claims have been remanded.

The appeal to reopen the claim of service connection for a neck disability is allowed.,The application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability is denied.,The application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disability is denied.,The application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a scar of the left eye is denied.,The application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right eye disability, to include insignificant retinal pigment deposits and myopic astigmatism in the right eye (also claimed as benign neoplasm of chorial nevus) is denied.,As new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a left eye disability, other than a scar of the left eye and to include insignificant retinal pigment deposits and myopic astigmatism in the left eye (also claimed as benign neoplasm of chorial nevus), the appeal to this extent is allowed.,The application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for hemorrhoids is denied.,The application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a left elbow disability, also claimed as nerve damage, is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), to include alcohol abuse, anxiety condition, drug abuse, memory loss, mental disorder, and major depression, is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence, including a private psychiatric evaluation that linked his current mental health conditions to his military service. The Board found sufficient medical evidence to support the conclusion that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition began during his active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for further development. Specifically, they are seeking clarification on whether the Veteran's paresthesias of upper and lower extremities is related to his hypertension, as well as whether his major depressive disorder and adjustment disorder with depression are related to his hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability is granted, and his right shoulder disabilities are remanded for further evaluation. The TDIU issue is also remanded.

The Board has granted the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but has remanded the claims for a lung disability and obstructive sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions and missing records.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability and remanded the issue of service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include posttraumatic stress disorder.,Service connection is also being remanded for the issue of service connection for a right knee disability.

The Veteran's right ear otitis media has resolved with no discernable symptoms. The claims for pseudofolliculitis barbae, onychomycosis, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including depressive disorder and PTSD), service connection for headaches, and a 10 percent rating based on multiple, noncompensable, service-connected disabilities are all remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and unspecified schizophrenia, is related to her military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of arthritis, hypertension, heart murmur, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus during service or within one year after separation. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.,There is also insufficient evidence to support a diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder) as the claim was filed many years after service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and major depressive disorder, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service connection claims for obstructive sleep apnea, residuals of prostate cancer, and a psychiatric disability were denied. The claim for a higher rating for the scar on his right side of the face with paresthesia was also denied.,Service connection for the cause of death due to bladder cancer resulting from diabetes mellitus, type II, was granted.

Service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae is denied as the Veteran does not have a current disability and there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease.,The claim for service connection for bipolar disorder is remanded as there is sufficient evidence to suggest that it may be related to service, but further examination and opinion are needed.

The Veteran's undifferentiated schizophrenia was rated at 100% for the period prior to February 6, 2002 and a 70% rating was granted from February 6, 2002 to June 15, 2009.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current mental health diagnoses and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, specifically missing a report from May 1986 that diagnosed adjustment disorder with disturbance of conduct.

The Veteran's stroke and PTSD claims were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service. The temporary total evaluation based on surgical or other treatment necessitating convalescence claim was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, has been reopened and is remanded.,Service connection for a prostate condition is denied as there is no credible evidence linking the current condition to his military service.,Service connection for bilateral foot condition/arches, hypertension, COPD, migraine headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) are all remanded due to insufficient examination or opinion regarding their etiology.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is currently being evaluated as a new claim since it was reopened.

The Veteran's claim for reopening his service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded. The TDIU issue is also remanded due to its inextricability with the reopening issue.