Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed before a decision can be made.,The Veteran needs to provide more information about his reported stressors and any corroborating evidence.

The Board dismissed all claims for service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or service connection in several cases, including his respiratory disability, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, calcium condition, and psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal disorder, right shoulder impingement syndrome, sleep apnea (claimed as a breathing disorder), and psychiatric disorder due to new evidence and exposure to burn pits in Iraq.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to his service in Vietnam and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and an upper respiratory disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and migraine headaches. The Veteran's low back disorder, sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded for further development.,Service connection is not granted for the claimed conditions as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder and his initial compensable rating claim for bilateral hearing loss were both denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a PTSD diagnosis, and his current diagnoses of acquired psychiatric disorders otherwise had no nexus to his in-service event. For his bilateral hearing loss, the pure tone thresholds at his August 2014 VA medical examination represented an exceptional pattern of hearing loss for his right ear but were within normal limits for his left ear.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD. The claim will be further evaluated based on the results of this examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration records that may contain relevant evidence about his disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to clarify his diagnoses and determine if they are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability is denied as there is no current diagnosis and the VA examiner found no evidence to support a current acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of prostate cancer was denied as there is no associated renal dysfunction.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his psychiatric disability was denied as the symptoms did not more nearly approximate those required for a higher rating.

The Veteran's tinea versicolor is granted service connection and his acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and an eating disorder NOS claim is reopened.,Service connection for Persian Gulf War syndrome, bilateral pes planus, scar, status post left knee surgery, and a left testicular torsion are denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is being remanded for an updated VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of his condition.,The issue of service connection for peripheral radiculopathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities is being remanded due to inadequate previous VA examination results.,An additional medical opinion is needed regarding the etiology of the Veteran's major depressive disorder, as well as whether it is aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability.,The issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded because there is evidence suggesting a link to military service or a service-connected disability.,A VA examination in conjunction with this claim is needed due to the Veteran's cervical spine disability possibly having been caused by his active service.,The Veteran's skin disability is being remanded for an additional VA examination and opinion regarding its etiology, given conflicting evidence from different medical professionals.,Service connection for high blood pressure is being remanded because it has not yet been adjudicated due to pending SSA benefits determination.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are being remanded as well.,Service connection for hypercholesterolemia is being remanded, with a request for additional evidence from Social Security Administration (SSA) regarding disability benefits.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities. His bilateral leg and foot disabilities, hyperthyroidism (Grave's disease), and chronic fatigue syndrome are denied.

The Veteran is not competent to handle disbursement of VA funds due to her stroke and psychiatric disability, which prevent her from managing her financial affairs.

The Board has decided that a remand is necessary to obtain the Veteran's VA Form 21-22, which may help determine whether his November 1994 rating decision became final and if new and material evidence is needed to reopen his schizophrenia claim.

The Veteran's claim to reopen a previous denial of service connection for PTSD was granted. The Board also remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying in-service stressors.