Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is causally related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service and granted service connection for this condition. However, the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, remains remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for various conditions due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include schizophrenia, needs more information and is therefore being sent back for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the Veteran's failure to report to scheduled VA examinations. The case will be returned to the RO for further development, including verifying the Veteran’s current address and scheduling him for appropriate VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and upper back disorder due to further development being required.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination regarding service connection claims for thyroid disease, psychiatric disability (including PTSD), and eye disability. The Veteran was exposed to ionizing radiation during his active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder and insomnia disorder), and sleep apnea due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and a circulatory disability, finding no evidence of such conditions during or after his military service. The claim for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD). The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown to have had their onset in service or within one year of separation from service. The examiner opined that the current hearing loss and tinnitus are less likely as not related to service.,The Board also denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD). The Veteran's reported stressors, including witnessing airplane crashes, were found insufficient to meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection and rating for ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder and PTSD) have been dismissed due to her death during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that there was no evidence of a diagnosed condition related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to report for VA examinations. The issues include left upper extremity radiculopathy/peripheral neuropathy, cervical spine disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, all secondary to service-connected lumbar strain.

The Board has determined that there has not been substantial compliance with its April 2019 remand directives, and therefore the issues of service connection for psychiatric disability (other than delusional disorder), low back disability, circulatory system disability (other than hypertension), bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and right knee disability are being remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for obtaining treatment records from a Vet Center in Lakewood, New Jersey.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depression with anxiety, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no evidence showing a chronic condition during or related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for headaches and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's representative provided additional evidence, but further VA medical opinions are needed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including confirmation of whether the Veteran was awarded a Purple Heart and an opinion on its relation to his current psychiatric disorder.