Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability and bilateral foot disability, to include pes planus, are granted. The remaining issues of service connection for right shoulder degenerative joint disease, left shoulder degenerative joint disease, and bilateral foot pain are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, swelling of the lower extremities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to missing examination reports and insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting additional examinations to address the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability for VA purposes.,The Veteran's left shoulder sprain is rated at 20 percent and the appeal is remanded to determine if a higher rating is warranted based on additional evidence or considerations.,The Veteran's claims for acquired psychiatric disability, respiratory disability, and IBS are remanded as no VA examinations have been conducted yet. The examiner should assess whether these conditions are related to service.,The Veteran's claim for a respiratory disability due to service in Southwest Asia is remanded as no VA examination has been conducted yet. The examiner should assess whether this condition is related to service.,The Veteran's claim for IBS due to service in Southwest Asia is remanded as no VA examination has been conducted yet. The examiner should assess whether this condition is related to service.

The Board has dismissed the appellant's claims for service connection and compensation related to a skin disorder, right-hand disability, and psychiatric disability. The appeal regarding the rating of his psychiatric disability prior to September 15, 2014, is denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The appeal regarding the rating of his psychiatric disability from September 15, 2014, is also denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and CAD have been granted service connection as due to herbicide exposure. The claims for gout, acquired psychiatric disability (including bipolar disorder), pulmonary condition, residuals of breast cancer, and erectile dysfunction are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD and a bilateral hip disability. The decision found that there is no evidence of an acquired psychiatric disorder related to service and that any current hip disability is not secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include as secondary to head injury with headaches. The case is being returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, diabetes mellitus, type 2, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The case is remanded for further development regarding exposure to herbicides/pesticides, chemicals, and ionizing radiation during service.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to May 8, 2015 have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and initial disability ratings have been remanded.

The Veteran's salpingectomy scar is rated at a noncompensable level, but granted an initial 10 percent rating.,The Veteran’s amputation scar of the left middle finger remains at a noncompensable level.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for prostate cancer is granted at 100 percent. The issues of an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for PTSD, depression, and anxiety are remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left knee disability, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), and for bilateral hearing loss. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with these other issues.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for skin rash, cold injury residuals, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric condition, including depression. This includes obtaining relevant medical records from Social Security Administration and a private facility where the Veteran was incarcerated, as well as scheduling VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, sleep apnea, and bilateral knee disability have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claim for tinnitus has been granted.,The claims for bilateral hearing loss, right foot disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) are remanded as there is no clear or competent medical evidence establishing a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for DDD of the low back, service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to service-connected back disorder, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and bipolar disorder.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is not service-connected. The case is being sent back for further examination and review.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no valid diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-IV or DSM-5 criteria. The Board also found that the current diagnosed conditions are not related to active service.