Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a left wrist and/or hand disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety, memory loss, bipolar disorder, depression, attention deficit disorder), and hypertension. The Veteran's complete service treatment records must be obtained to determine if he had any active duty or training service that could affect his claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, which may relate his current psychiatric conditions to his service. The claims for schizophrenia and PTSD are being reopened.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left shoulder disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims based on the lack of in-service injury or disease.

The appeal on the issue of entitlement to service connection for residuals of head trauma is dismissed. The Veteran's headaches are granted as a current disability resulting from an in-service injury. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and/or PTSD, is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding its relationship to service. The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae is remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, a chronic multisymptom illness, sleep apnea, and a psychiatric disorder are not supported by the evidence of record. The appeals have been remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including an eye examination to determine the current severity of the service-connected left eye disability and a psychiatric examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disorder. The effective date for the grant of service connection for detached retina is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his time in service or any service-connected disabilities.