Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further medical opinions. The Veteran's sleep apnea may be related to his exposure to herbicide agents, but a VA examiner will need to determine if it is aggravated by his prostate cancer or psychiatric disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's low back disability, but remanded several other issues including those related to bilateral hearing loss, right eye condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and bipolar disorder), left knee condition, right knee condition, left hip condition, bilateral foot condition, and left elbow condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied, but her claim for tinnitus was reopened and granted.,The Veteran's psychiatric disorder (due to MST) is still pending and needs further review.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connection due to in-service acoustic trauma.,Tinnitus has not been present during the period of the claim or approximate thereto.

The Board has determined that the claims for increased ratings and service connection are not fully developed, and thus must be remanded to obtain additional information from the Veteran and his providers.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD due to new and material evidence provided in his February 2020 Board Hearing testimony. The case is remanded for further development, including verification of stressors and a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board denied claims for service connection for hypertension, inguinal hernias, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's renal insufficiency claim under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 was also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The claim for acquired psychiatric disability remains denied.

The Board has reopened the claim due to new and material evidence, but the case is remanded for further development including obtaining missing service records and mental health treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the Veteran's current inability to report for a VA examination due to his dementia and recent diagnosis with COVID-19. The claims are now pending again.

The appeal was dismissed due to the appellant's death, and no jurisdiction remains for the merits of the claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU prior to March 23, 2016. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the Veteran’s current psychiatric disorders to his military service or service-connected orthopedic disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left forearm and hand pain, as well as his back condition, do not have a direct relationship to service. The psychiatric disorder claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, as there is no evidence to support these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

Service connection for a psychiatric disorder, blurry vision, prostate disorder, urinary frequency and right knee disorder is granted.,All other claims remain denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to new and material evidence having been received, as well as issues related to bilateral hearing loss, degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine, and individual unemployability. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD. The issues of service connection for a lung/breathing disability and hypertension have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection is not granted as there is no clear nexus between the diagnosed conditions and military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder and remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions. The claim for chorioretinal scar, right eye is also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to unclear dates of service and need for clarification regarding diagnoses and opinions provided in previous VA examinations.