Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected right and left ear sensorineural hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, right knee degenerative joint disease (right knee disability), obstructive sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted. The Veteran is now receiving a 10% rating for his allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence linking his current conditions to his military service. The Board found that the Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and PTSD due to potential exposure to herbicide agents in Korea. The Veteran's service records indicate he served in Korea with a unit that may have been near the DMZ where herbicides were applied. Further verification is needed regarding his claimed stressors.

The Veteran's appeal for restoration of a 40 percent rating for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) is granted, effective May 1, 2018. The appeals for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy service connection and other issues are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for left and right knee conditions have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals during a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than ADHD), and a lower back condition were denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of current disabilities or a causal relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development and need for a VA addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, including for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, loss of concentration, memory loss and sleep difficulty), secondary service connection for sleep apnea to the acquired psychiatric disorder, and service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD).

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, should be remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for a new examination.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for reopening service connection claims and effective date issues, but has remanded his claim seeking a noninitial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected headaches, vascular type.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee disability, residual of spider bite on the right hand, skin condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to the Veteran's failure to report for VA examinations scheduled in accordance with the Board’s previous remand directives.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tension headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, GERD, and hypertension have been reopened.,Service connection has been granted for these conditions.

The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is dismissed. The appeals for increased disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left-wrist disorder, service connection for left-hand numbness (to include carpal tunnel syndrome), service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, service connection for kidney disorder, to include as secondary to medications prescribed for hypertension and/or an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, to include as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD are all remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and rating determinations. The Veteran's obesity claim is denied as it is not a disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for OSA and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient examination findings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is related to an in-service sexual assault and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing current disability. The claims for higher ratings for knee disabilities and for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability are remanded as there is insufficient examination documentation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine whether any current or previously diagnosed psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD from September 16, 2014 is granted. The appeal seeking service connection for a dental disability is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and a failure to comply with prior instructions. The Veteran is required to provide additional VA treatment records, especially from Salisbury VAMC and Hickory VA OPC, as well as SSA disability records.