Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed PTSD and other psychiatric disorders, including verification of in-service stressors. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to determine if he meets the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and any other diagnosed psychiatric disorder, and whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's tension headaches and acquired psychiatric disability are granted with increased ratings. The left knee condition remains unresolved, as the Board has ordered a remand for further examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication. The Veteran's claims of bilateral hearing loss, PTSD service connection, and back condition are all pending.

The Veteran's tinnitus and PTSD have been granted service connection.,A rating of 10 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis has been granted, but a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the Board finds that any diagnosed conditions are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sinus disorder, eye disorder, and hypertension due to herbicide exposure or contaminated water exposure. The claims are being reviewed again as part of this process.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and an acquired psychiatric disorder (other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder and major depressive disorder), finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and hypertension as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder due to potential in-service noise exposure and fear of hostile military activity during combat service.

The Board has determined that additional development is required for the Veteran's claims, including new examinations and records review.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and for an initial increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claim for service connection was rendered moot due to a grant of service connection in August 2019. The hearing loss claim remains before the Board but does not warrant a higher than 50% rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a prostate condition has been granted, making the issue moot. The Board has remanded issues related to obstructive sleep apnea, hepatitis C, erectile dysfunction (secondary to prostate cancer), and psychiatric disability other than PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to new evidence and testimony from the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a kidney disorder is dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee disability, left hip and ankle disabilities, cervical spine disability, and left upper extremity disability (left arm) due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability and residuals of TBI, finding no current disabilities. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral pes planus was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, substance abuse, and hepatitis C. The Board found that there was no evidence of a diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric condition related to military service. For substance abuse, the Board determined it resulted from willful misconduct. For hepatitis C, the Board concluded it was due to intravenous drug use rather than in-service exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of diabetes mellitus, type II; headaches; hypertension; a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD); and sleep apnea due to the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents or toxic chemicals during service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a lumbar spine disorder are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examinations.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and adjustment disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD or any other mental health condition related to service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding earlier effective dates for his service-connected psychiatric disability, radiculopathy of the bilateral legs, TBI, and lumbar spine disability. The claims were based on impermissible freestanding requests for earlier effective dates.

The Board has dismissed all appeals related to schizophrenia, increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, earlier effective date for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, and TDIU as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.