Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as degenerative changes, is granted service connection. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a sleep disorder and an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) are remanded.

The Board is remanding all issues for additional development and records.,The Veteran's service connection claims are being remanded due to the need for additional records, including military personnel records and service treatment records.,The VA psychiatric examination in January 2018 did not provide a clear opinion on the etiology of the acquired psychiatric disorder. A new examination is needed.,VA lumbar and cervical spine examinations were inadequate and require further evaluation to determine functional impairment due to pain, weakness, fatigue, or incoordination.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 17, 2008 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is being remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding his last date of employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and related issues due to inadequate development of evidence, particularly regarding a stroke or TIA that occurred during active duty training in November 2004. The case is returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been remanded due to the need for further development.,Service connection has been granted for a bilateral foot disability.

The Board has denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, bladder cancer, and prostate cancer. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional information about the Veteran's exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a heart disability, diabetes mellitus, and a psychiatric disability have been reopened. The Board has found that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether these disabilities are related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, including as due to an undiagnosed illness.,The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as due to an undiagnosed illness.,The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, including as due to an undiagnosed illness or in-service immunizations.,The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, including as due to an undiagnosed illness or in-service immunizations.,The Board denied service connection for esophageal fungal infection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been denied. The Board has remanded several issues, including those related to sleep apnea, shoulder conditions, glaucoma, prostate condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's somatic symptom disorder is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus and headaches. As a result, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an eye disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, prostate cancer, kidney disability, erectile dysfunction, and heart disability is granted. The claim for service connection for a back disability is denied.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and/or service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, as well as his claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, are remanded due to new evidence received since the final November 2009 rating decision. The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also remanded with instructions to obtain relevant medical records.

The Board denied reopening of the Veteran's claims for respiratory disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, bilateral eye disability, and psychiatric disability. The psychiatric claim was granted as new and material evidence has been received. The other conditions remain denied due to lack of new and material evidence or a reasonable possibility of substantiation.

The claim to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for left knee disability is granted. The appeal is granted to this extent only.

The claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and development of stressor evidence. The Veteran's statements, including his testimony at a Travel Board hearing, suggest that his current psychiatric conditions may be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current acquired psychiatric condition, to include PTSD, and the Veteran's claims are denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims for service connection can be adjudicated on the merits. This includes obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and rating determinations. The Veteran's tinnitus remains rated at 10 percent, a compensable rating for his left leg scar is needed, and the VA will conduct new examinations to determine the etiology of any hearing loss, psychiatric disorders, back disabilities, knee disabilities, and cephalgia.

Tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Bilateral hearing loss, bronchitis, residuals of thyroidectomy, obstructive sleep apnea, and migraine headaches are remanded for further development.,An acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and service, as well as the relationship of any psychiatric disorder to service-connected conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no service connection decisions were made.