Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder and increased ratings for his right knee degenerative joint disease were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a secondary service connection claim, as the Veteran’s psychiatric condition was more likely related to financial stressors rather than his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records from his Air Force service and to provide him with a VA examination for his acquired psychiatric disorder, skin disorders, back disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, and polyneuropathy. The claims are being remanded due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bronchitis was denied, but his claim for bipolar disorder (now claimed as an acquired psychiatric disorder) was granted. The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing acquired psychiatric disorder was aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including unspecified schizophrenia and other psychotic disorder, is granted as service connected on a direct basis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, a heart condition, and hypertension due to unclear nature of conditions and need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeals for an increased evaluation and service connection for fatigue, depression, and tension headaches have been dismissed due to his death.,No new evidence or changes in the law were presented that would allow these claims to be reconsidered.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for medical opinions regarding the Veteran's death. The cause of death is not fully understood, and further investigation is required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA and private treatment records. The Veteran is required to provide authorization for these records, and a medical examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any lumbar spine disability.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for gynecological condition, chest pain, right leg pain, left leg disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, hypermobility syndrome, arthritis, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, personality disorder, thoracic and lumbar spine, right shin splints, left shin splints, cervical spine disability, CFS, right lower extremity radiculitis, left lower extremity radiculitis, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, dyspepsia, dizziness, left hamstring spasms, and right hamstring spasms. The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, an acquired psychiatric disorder (somatic symptom and depressive disorders), and IBS.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to insufficient development and lack of medical nexus opinions. The Veteran is required to provide more specific information about his in-service stressors, a VA examination must be provided for psychiatric disorders, and further examinations are needed for the lumbar spine, right knee, left foot numbness, bilateral hip pain, and bilateral lower extremity sciatica.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include Major Depressive Disorder. The evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD or establish that these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that there is not credible supporting evidence of the occurrence of the reported in-service stressors and that her current diagnoses are not related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied the reopening of claims for service connection for schizophrenia and anxiety disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection. The remaining claims for psychiatric disorders, hearing loss, and ankle disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic sinus disability and acquired psychiatric disorder due to conflicting medical opinions.,For asthma, a new VA examination is needed to determine its current severity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and an adjustment/mood disorder, has been reopened due to new evidence. However, the preponderance of the evidence is against finding that his current condition began during service or is related to any in-service injury or disease. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The appeal of the March 19, 2019, rating decision is dismissed because the TDIU issue has already been reviewed and remanded by the Board in October 2019.

The Board has dismissed the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, migraine headaches, and irritable bowel syndrome. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder) is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of residuals of a lacerated right inner bicep with nerve damage and scar is denied due to the period of other than honorable discharge. The Board has remanded claims for psychiatric disorder, left knee condition, right knee condition, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, left elbow condition, and left shoulder condition.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, right knee disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been reopened. However, the Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions or any in-service event, injury, or illness. The claim for heart disorder was not addressed as it did not meet the criteria for service connection.