Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (schizoaffective disorder and PTSD). The rating for the Veteran's left foot disability was also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for headaches, high blood pressure, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete development of his service records and need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C has been reopened and granted.,Service connection is also granted for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, associated with diabetes mellitus. The case is remanded for further examination to determine if this condition is related to service-connected diabetes.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information to corroborate the Veteran's in-service stressors and for a psychiatric examination.

The appeal for service connection for sleep apnea, weak gums and loss of teeth, PTSD, and a low back disability is dismissed. Service connection for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for gastroparesis and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder were denied. The Board also remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and a higher rating for gastroparesis after August 26, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that it had its onset in active service or was otherwise causally connected to active service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for skin disorder (tinea pedis) is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that it had its onset in active service or was otherwise causally connected to active service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for heart disorder (enlarged heart) is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that it had its onset in active service or was otherwise causally connected to active service. The claim has been reopened, but remains denied due to lack of nexus with service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired mental disorder other than PTSD is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that it had its onset in active service or was otherwise causally connected to active service. The claim has been reopened, but remains denied due to lack of nexus with service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that it had its onset in active service or was otherwise causally connected to active service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left shoulder disability and remanded it. The rating for his acquired psychiatric disability is granted at 70 percent, effective from July 27, 2016 to January 10, 2017.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that no disability of service origin caused or contributed to his suicide.

The application to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. For the entire period on appeal, a rating in excess of 20 percent for a cervical spine disorder is denied. An effective date prior to June 24, 2008, for the grant of service connection for a cervical spine disorder is denied.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 20, 1973 for the award of service connection for schizophrenia. The decision is based on evidence showing functional impairment since service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder, skin disorder, and type II diabetes mellitus. The AOJ is also instructed to verify the Veteran's exposure to herbicides and obtain all outstanding medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the remaining issues of service connection for a low back disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), increased disability evaluations for traumatic arthritis of the right knee and left knee, and an increased disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory condition, pes planus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The cases are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a sleep disorder, finding that there is no current diagnosis of the condition and it is not related to active duty or an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, otitis media of the left ear, cholera, tuberculosis, hypertension, dysentery, kidney disability, a disability manifested by blood occult in the urine, an acquired psychiatric disability (including general anxiety disorder), and PTSD. The reopening is based on new evidence suggesting Agent Orange exposure during service.

The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for psychiatric disability is granted. Service connection for schizophrenia is granted. Entitlement to service connection for gout is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, lumbar spine disability, neck disability, right knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (unspecified depressive disorder and severe alcohol use disorder) have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.,The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any current disabilities related to his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary due to the inadequacy of the August 2016 VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further investigation regarding allegations of sexual harassment and unwanted sexual attention from other soldiers while stationed in Germany.