Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including thoracic herniated disc, spinal stenosis, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, a closed head injury, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (posttraumatic stress disorder with depression), all of which were determined to be not attributable to the appellant's period of active duty for training.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to attend a scheduled VA examination for his PTSD claim. The Veteran will be given another opportunity to appear for an examination.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as depression. The right knee and left ankle disabilities were also denied. Service connection was not granted for the right ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD and depression, as well as sleep apnea secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for urethritis was denied. The rating for IVDS from August 15, 2007 to November 26, 2014 was granted at a 40 percent level. Other issues such as coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), erectile dysfunction, and SMC benefits were remanded for further review.

Service connection for lumbar spine disability and left knee disability is granted as new and material evidence has been received.,Service connection for left shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and sleep apnea are denied. Service connection for acquired psychiatric disability is granted.,A rating more than 20 percent for a right shoulder disability is denied, as well as a rating more than 10 percent for right knee disability and tinnitus. A compensable rating for hemorrhoids is denied, and a rating more than 30 percent for herpes is denied.,TDIU is remanded.

The Board has determined that there are outstanding records and the VA examination is inadequate. The Veteran's claims for defective hearing, low back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as alcoholism and drug abuse), neck disability, and bilateral hip disability are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on tinnitus, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder including a major depressive disorder is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than dysthymic reaction, finding that there was no evidence to support a diagnosis of PTSD or any other mental condition based on in-service stressors.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion regarding the Veteran's TBI and acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as whether his service-connected laceration scar of the occipital area caused or contributed to his death. The appellant contends that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new and material evidence submitted. The claims for other conditions remain pending.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Board has also remanded the issues of systemic joint, thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral knee, bilateral ankle, peripheral vestibular, scars, hypertension, and migraine headaches disabilities, as well as acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD).

The claims to reopen the issues of service connection for various disabilities, including right ankle arthritis, back disability, bilateral lower extremity pain and swelling, left foot drop/abnormal gait, cervical spine/neck disability, residuals of a tibia fracture, right ear hearing loss, allergic condition, asthma, dermatitis (swelling of the groin area), and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) are granted. Service connection is established for these conditions based on their direct relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of right knee strain with degenerative changes was denied. The Board found that the disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating based on limitation of motion. Service connection claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right foot disability were also addressed but no specific disposition is provided.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claims for service connection for right and left ear hearing loss is granted. The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is also granted.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric/substance abuse disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, low back disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's left knee condition is denied as there is no evidence of a pre-service injury or disease. The acquired psychiatric disability, including persistent depressive disorder and other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder, is granted as the symptoms began during service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, liver condition, vision condition, and acquired psychiatric condition as the evidence did not support a causal link to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a skin disability, chronic fatigue, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and major depressive disorder), a right shoulder disability, and bilateral hip disability have been remanded due to the need for additional development. The VA will conduct a Gulf War examination to assess whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's exposure to environmental hazards during his service in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations. An addendum opinion is also needed regarding the acquired psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and sleep condition claims. The service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied as it was caused by dishonorable discharge events.