Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the cases due to unclear service periods and character of discharge, which could affect the Veteran's claims for service connection and pension benefits.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed for several of the Veteran's service connection claims, including those related to seizure disorder, lung cancer, respiratory disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The appeals are being remanded to allow for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had its onset during service and has persisted since then, granting service connection.,Service connection for the left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and lumbar spine disorder secondary to bilateral knee disorders is remanded due to insufficient medical evidence.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded as there are no current audiometric findings that meet VA criteria for a disability. The Veteran's representative indicated possible worsening of his condition since the last examination in 2011.,Service connection for peritoneal adhesions is remanded due to insufficient medical evidence, including lack of records from the private debridement surgery performed in 2002.,Service connection for a psychiatric disorder is remanded as there are no current diagnoses or sufficient medical evidence linking service to the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent prior to July 12, 2016 and in excess of 70 percent thereafter for his acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to July 12, 2016 is also being remanded.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling for extension, effective July 27, 2017. The Board has found no basis to grant a higher evaluation based on limitation of motion at any point during the appeal period.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and heart disease are remanded due to conflicting opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of records and need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient examination reports and conflicting theories of entitlement. The Veteran is presumed sound at entry, but his father served in Vietnam and may be entitled to benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1805 based on herbicide exposure. His acquired psychiatric disorder is presumed to have pre-existed service. Residuals from a head injury are also remanded for examination.

The Veteran's application to reopen her claim of service connection for fibromyalgia was dismissed. Her application to reopen her claim of service connection for sleep apnea was granted.,Her applications to reopen her claims of service connection for right shoulder impingement, discoid lupus, urticaria, and bilateral galactorrhea were also dismissed. Her application to reopen her claim of an initial rating higher than 50 percent for sinusitis since November 10, 2011 was dismissed.,Her applications to reopen her claims of service connection for psychiatric disability and for a compensable rating for the bilateral breast fibrocystic condition were remanded. Her application to reopen her claim of service connection for sleep apnea was also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes, heart condition, peripheral neuropathy, psychiatric disability, and hearing loss has been granted.,Service connection is established for diabetes mellitus due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during military service.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including brain disease, joint pain, muscle pain, blurred vision, fatigue, peripheral neuropathy/fibromyalgia, insomnia, memory loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and schizophrenia), are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that was incurred in or due to his time in service.

The claim to reopen the previously denied service connection for psychiatric disability is granted. The claim of secondary service connection for acquired psychiatric disability is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been remanded due to the need for further evaluation and evidence. The Board found no new and material evidence for tinnitus, denied bilateral hearing loss, and remanded other issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions due to outstanding records and a need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, was denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The claim for TDIU was also denied due to the lack of a single disability rated at least 40% disabling or combined disabilities meeting the percentage requirements.

The Veteran's surviving spouse is being asked to provide medical opinions regarding the etiology of various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, prostate disorder, erectile dysfunction, cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and others. The claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left upper extremity, right upper extremity, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety), finding no evidence of these conditions during his military service or otherwise related to his service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and development of his claims.

The Board denied service connection for chronic disability of the right and left arm, back, tinnitus, and a chronic psychiatric disability claimed as depression and anxiety. The Veteran's current disabilities were not found to be related to her active service.

The Veteran's claims for left-hand disability and acquired psychiatric disability have been reopened. The Board has ordered remand for additional examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his disabilities, as well as whether they are related to service.