Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder should be remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding whether the condition existed prior to his enlistment and was clearly and unmistakably not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation, service connection, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as depression, related to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The Board has determined that remand is necessary due to the need to obtain additional medical records and provide addendum opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's psychiatric disorders and his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cervical spine disability, low back disability, insomnia, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to new evidence received since previous decisions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating issues due to insufficient evidence. The claims will be reviewed again with new medical opinions.

The appeal seeking to reopen a claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, is granted. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for depression as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including back disability, bilateral leg disability, vision disability (other than related to a bilateral pinguecula), breathing disability, sleep apnea, prostate disability, colon cancer, diabetes mellitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been denied due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in service.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and evaluations for various conditions. The Veteran's TBI claim is denied due to lack of evidence of current disability related to the in-service injury. Service connection for left arm surgery scars remains denied as there are no residuals attributable to the in-service injury. Other claims have been remanded without assigning a specific disposition.

The Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia does not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of qualifying physical disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and obesity/weight gain, both of which are associated with or secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, anxiety and depressive disorder).,The VA examiners found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to the service-connected psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bipolar disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include depression and anxiety, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The other issues are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination. The claim for residuals of a left breast mastectomy is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the inextricability of issues currently being developed and considered by the RO, including his claims for increased disability rating for hydrocelectomy and atrophy of the testis, as well as service connection for erectile dysfunction. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder will be returned to the Board after these issues are addressed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examinations, as well as readjudication of his claims.

The Board has granted service connection for sciatic nerve compression of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The claim for PTSD remains pending and remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for fibromyalgia, right shoulder and arm disability, left shoulder and arm disability, neck disability, low back disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, right hand disability, and left hand disability. The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to July 2014 and 40 percent thereafter for left ankle disability and service connection for psychiatric disorder are remanded.,The Board has denied service connection for fibromyalgia, right shoulder and arm disability, left shoulder and arm disability, neck disability, low back disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, right hand disability, and left hand disability. The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to July 2014 and 40 percent thereafter for left ankle disability and service connection for psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to July 22, 2018 is being remanded as the RO needs to refer it to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration.