Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, erectile dysfunction, loss of use of a creative organ, total disability rating based on individual unemployability, and earlier effective date for bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete medical records and inadequate examination reports.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for bilateral Achilles tendonitis and obstructive sleep apnea, but denied the petition to reopen his claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy RLE and LLE. The appeal is granted on these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to missing records and additional development.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete service treatment records from October 2011 to May 2012. The RO is instructed to seek these records and notify the Veteran if they are unavailable.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA and headaches as secondary to OSA. The back condition, acquired psychiatric condition, and right ankle condition are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records. The TDIU claim is denied as the Veteran is currently employed full-time.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, arthritis, osteoporosis, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to active duty or ACDUTRA service. The eye disability claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current pseudofolliculitis barbae and there is no evidence of a nexus between service and this condition. The claim for PTSD will be remanded as it was not addressed in the decision.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a cervical spine disability, left shoulder disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression due to the need for further development of the record.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including other specified trauma and stressor related disorder), and hypertension has been reopened. The Board finds that new evidence supports the reopening of these claims. Service connection is granted for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder (other specified trauma and stressor related disorder). However, service connection for hypertension cannot be established as it did not manifest within one year of separation from service or is otherwise etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include as secondary to his service-connected hearing loss, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to support these claims. The left pneumothorax claim is granted, while the left leg disability and psychiatric disability claims are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen any of these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bunions, psychiatric disorders, and other disabilities, have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of any of these conditions or a link to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, was granted. Service connection for a skin disability, diagnosed as miliaria profunda and tropical anhidrotic asthenia, was also granted. The Veteran's increased rating for miliaria was granted at 60 percent.

The Board has determined that the appellant's schizophrenia, which was not formally diagnosed until 1982, likely began during his active duty service. The decision grants service connection for schizophrenia.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder), and lumbar strain.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss increased rating claim is remanded to obtain relevant treatment records and provide a new examination.,The Veteran's right fifth finger disability claim requires clarification due to the lack of an opinion on the etiology of his symptoms.,A VA examination is necessary for the left upper, right upper, and left lower extremities to determine if any current complaints are related to service.,The Veteran's psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression) claim requires a new examination and opinion due to inconsistencies in his reports and lack of support from STRs.,The Veteran's gastroesophageal disability (GERD), lumbar spine disability, and shifted pelvis claims require the retrieval of relevant VA treatment records and clarification on sources of treatment for these disabilities.,,

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from the May 2017 examiner. The matter of TDIU is also referred to the Director of Compensation Service.