Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the appellant's November 2012 statement may be reasonably construed as a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) to VA’s July 2012 decision declining to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been submitted regarding entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for chronic chest pathology, PTSD, and poor circulation. The claim for acquired psychiatric disorders was not granted as the evidence did not meet the criteria for PTSD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric condition (depression), erectile dysfunction secondary to prostate cancer status post radical prostatectomy, diabetes mellitus, Type II, and prostate cancer. The Board also found that new evidence was not sufficient to reopen his claim for a bilateral foot condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including manic disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, paranoia, and major depression with psychotic features, has been granted. The effective date is not specified as the decision was made in March 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are causally related to a service stressor and pain from his service-connected orthopedic disorders. The issue of entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeal as the appellant requested to withdraw it before a decision was made.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between current hearing loss and military noise exposure. The claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD and other specified and trauma-related disorder, was also denied as the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-IV or DSM-5.

The Veteran's undifferentiable symptoms related to an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as persistent depressive disorder and PTSD, are at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and schizophrenia. The case is remanded for further development and a VA opinion.

The Board has dismissed the appellant's freestanding claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for paranoid schizophrenia because it cannot be entertained as the June 2008 rating decision is final.

The Veteran's claims for left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and tinnitus have been denied. The claims for bilateral pes planus and residuals of a right foot injury have been reopened due to new evidence. A psychiatric disability claim requires additional information.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for TBI is withdrawn. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, loss of use of feet and hands as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder, rhabdomyolysis, serotonin syndrome, SMC based on need for aid and attendance and/or housebound status, SMC based on loss of use of upper and lower extremities, and TDIU are all remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, arthritis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disability. The claims were also denied for increased rating in excess of 10 percent prior to May 8, 2012 and 30 percent thereafter for a foot disability, and for entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for arthritis, stroke, aphasia, colitis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) due to a lack of VA examinations addressing these conditions. The Veteran is also seeking secondary service connection for depression.

The Veteran's claim for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include unspecified depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, paranoid schizophrenia and insomnia has been reopened. The right ankle disability claim is being remanded.,Hypertension and the acquired psychiatric disorder claims are both reopened due to new evidence received since their last final denial. However, service connection cannot be established for these conditions as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The claim will be reviewed again with additional medical examination and consideration of all available records.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the merits is denied for a right torso disability. Service connection is granted for headaches. The appeals for spinal, bilateral tinnitus, hearing loss, and lower extremity disabilities are remanded.