Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for radiculopathy of the left upper extremity and TDIU have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, is related to his military service. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the possibility of increased severity since his last VA examination in June 2018. The Veteran may be entitled to a higher rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of low back and/or tailbone injury, acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, and left ankle disorder have all been denied. The Board found no current diagnoses or in-service events that would support these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The hearing loss claim will be addressed with a new VA examination, the PTSD claim will require a VA psychiatric examination, and the gastritis claim requires an updated VA examination focusing on all underlying conditions.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at a maximum of 50 percent, and his major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent. The Veteran also meets the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, and will need additional opinions regarding whether the Veteran had an acquired psychiatric disorder prior to August 8, 2018, that was related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for a lumbar spine disability, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, and service connection for erectile dysfunction disability. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Creutzfeld-Jacob disease was denied. The right ankle disability is granted with a rating of 20 percent, but the left foot and psychiatric disabilities are remanded due to lack of current diagnoses or evidence linking them to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition (including post-traumatic stress disorder) is found to be related to in-service stressors.,There is no current diagnosis of vertigo, so the claim must be denied.,The right shoulder disability and hepatitis C are not service-connected due to lack of evidence indicating a connection to service.,Headaches are not service-connected as there is no indication that they were aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is moot as his PTSD and MDD already cover all of his psychiatric symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 70 percent for service-connected paranoid schizophrenia was denied as the Veteran failed to report for a necessary VA examination without good cause shown.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to errors in previous examinations and diagnoses.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been reopened and granted. Service connection is established for major depressive disorder, hypertension secondary to major depressive disorder, and psychiatric disability (major depressive disorder).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his military service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's chronic tension headaches are granted service connection. The other issues on appeal are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include sleep disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional development. The issues include respiratory disorder, seizures, CAD secondary to PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a psychiatric disorder, and kidney disorder have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service stressors leading to current mental health issues or a link between any diagnosed condition and military service.

The case is being remanded to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected TBI, including any acquired psychiatric disorder. The examiner will also provide opinions on whether these conditions are related to service.