Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran meets the DSM-5 criteria for PTSD related to his military service in Vietnam, and whether any other acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD or other acquired psychiatric disability, finding that the onset of these conditions occurred during active duty service and supported by credible lay evidence.

The Board has decided that the service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder should be remanded due to insufficient medical evidence in the record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are being remanded to obtain additional evidence, conduct medical examinations, and complete development regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a back disability due to new evidence received since the last denial. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding a higher initial rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder and the claim of entitlement to service connection for Dependents’ Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. chapter 35 prior to December 14, 2018.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of increased evaluation and TDIU due to service-connected schizophrenia. The Veteran will need a VA examination, and his entitlement to TDIU will be considered.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for respiratory problems and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and ratings for certain disabilities. The specific issues include dental disorders, hearing loss, tinnitus, ear infections, sleep apnea, arm and elbow disorders, frostbite residuals, low back disorder, sciatic nerve disorder, psychiatric disorders, pes planus, gout in the lower extremities, bronchial asthma, and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, right femoral hernia, left femoral hernia, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depressive disorder and PTSD), and COPD have all been denied. The Board found no current diagnoses of these conditions.,There is no evidence showing the Veteran has any current diagnosed sleep apnea, right or left femoral hernias, or an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depressive disorder and PTSD).

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than December 5, 2017 for the grant of service connection for specific phobia is denied. The effective date will be fixed based on the facts found and not earlier than the date of receipt of application.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a misunderstanding of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, specifically a chemical imbalance. The RO needs to consider whether new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate this claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted after the initial denial and a need for an examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claiming bipolar disorder and alcohol abuse, as there was no new and relevant evidence presented to support the claim.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to a higher rating for sarcoidosis and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as her TDIU claim. The VA examinations are needed to address whether the Veteran’s sarcoidosis affects her brain and if it causes or aggravates any psychiatric disorders. Additionally, the AOJ should obtain all relevant treatment records from the Alvin C. York VAMC and invite the Veteran to submit any record of conversations with Ms. Shipley.

The Veteran's costochondritis and acquired psychiatric disorder were denied as not incurred in service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as it is at least as likely as not related to her active service, including noise exposure in service.,The preponderance of the evidence does not support finding that the Veteran’s lung condition began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's appeals for reopening service connection, increased disability ratings, and earlier effective dates have been withdrawn. The Board has dismissed these matters.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee disorders, acquired psychiatric disorder, and skin disorder. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.