Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is dismissed as he withdrew the issue from appeal.,Service connection for left and right knee conditions, diagnosed as patellofemoral pain syndrome, is granted due to continuity of symptomatology since service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depressive disorder with alcohol dependence, is granted based on credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors and a current diagnosis of PTSD.,Service connection for traumatic brain injury is granted due to a documented in-service skull fracture.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining a supplemental opinion regarding her claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and adjudicating her TDIU and SMC claims.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, sinusitis, insomnia, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a link between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anxiety disorder, claimed as mental disorder, is related to his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, back disability, or radiculopathy are related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression. The Veteran's OSA was not incurred in service nor caused by a service-connected disability. His current depression is more likely related to situational stressors rather than his service-connected disabilities.,For the headache (migraine) disability, the Board granted a 50 percent rating since April 23, 2012.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if any of the Veteran's disabilities are related to service. The issues include right knee disability, lumbar disability, nasal disorder, TBI, OSA, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and a skin disability. The Veteran's claims were not supported by competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various mental health conditions due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran was receiving Supplemental Security Income from Social Security Administration, but VA did not attempt to obtain his SSA records.

The Board dismissed the appeals of service connection claims for various conditions as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and claims have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a back condition (tailbone fracture) due to inadequate VA examinations. The examinations did not adequately assess whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is about her initial disability rating for service-connected schizophrenia (also claimed as PTSD) prior to May 4, 2016. The RO increased the rating from 10% to 50% effective May 4, 2016. She now appeals for a higher initial rating before that date.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, major depressive disorder, psychosis for the purpose of establishing eligibility for treatment, and a higher initial rating for tinnitus are dismissed. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is granted.

The Veteran's hypertension and hemorrhoids have been rated appropriately. The Board has found that the Veteran is already in receipt of the maximum allowable rating for his hemorrhoids.,The Veteran’s left ankle disability, hydrocele, recurrent kidney stones, sleep apnea, COPD, and PTSD are all remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the March 2018 examiner's opinion regarding the preexistence of a psychiatric disability and its aggravation by service. The appellant is required to provide an addendum opinion from the March 2018 examiner or another appropriate clinician.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of service connection for a psychiatric disability, sleep apnea, left upper extremity neuropathy, and rating in excess of 10 percent for a heart disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD. The evidence now submitted raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating that these conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination and because the TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.