Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that the evidence did not support the Veteran's claims of in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and unclear diagnoses. The issues of service connection are inextricably intertwined with the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for back pain, respiratory condition, and acquired psychiatric condition. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, left knee or leg conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's chronic headaches, acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as insomnia), sleep apnea, and vestibular disorder have been granted service connection. The effective date for the grant of service connection is March 31, 2016.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is rated at a 50 percent since August 2013. The rating reflects significant impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the severity of the service-connected hearing loss. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and vertigo or dizziness remain pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and adjustment disorder with anxiety) due to a lack of evidence showing current diagnoses that meet VA regulations, and because there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for Polymorphous Light Eruption (PLE) and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD with panic attacks without agoraphobia, to include as secondary to the service-connected chronic otitis externa in the right ear. The Veteran's PLE was not found to have begun during service or be related to an in-service injury or disease. His acquired psychiatric disorder was also not found to have begun during service or be related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Board denied a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, finding that the Veteran's disability did not meet the criteria for a 20 percent or higher rating prior to July 19, 2011. From July 19, 2011, his disability was rated as 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including CRPS, lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, bilateral arm and leg disabilities, tinnitus, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran is also being asked to provide medical records related to his service-connected plantar neuropathy of the feet.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, pes planus (claimed as fallen arches), sleep apnea, and hypertension due to potential new evidence received since the last final decision. The Veteran is requested to provide assistance in obtaining any outstanding records.

Your service character has been upgraded, and this issue is dismissed. Your other claims for disability ratings are still being processed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease and a psychiatric disorder, make it impossible for him to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for left knee disability to include chronic knee pain and remanded other issues including cervical pain, colonic polyp/mass, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

Your case is being sent back to the agency for them to consider additional VA treatment records. They will then decide if you can reopen your claims for low back disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board dismissed the issue regarding a reduction in rating for service-connected psychiatric disability as it was not yet ripe for review.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include a stress disorder is granted. An initial rating of 40 percent from January 1, 2014 for prostate cancer with voiding dysfunction and urinary frequency is also granted.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of right hand injury and acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD). The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.,Service connection for the claimed conditions is not granted due to lack of evidence showing a current disability related to service.

Service connection for PTSD is granted. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (previously characterized as Anxiety Disorder) is rated at 30 percent, and the TDIU claim is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The case is remanded for further examination and medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's attempt to reopen his claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the new evidence submitted did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.