Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities, right eye diabetic retinopathy, prostatitis with urethritis, bilateral hearing loss, tinea pedis with diabetic dermopathy, and tinea cruris has been granted. Effective dates have not yet been determined for these conditions.

The Veteran's breast condition (claimed as breast cancer) is not service-connected due to the evidence showing it was fibrocystic breast disease at entry and did not increase in severity beyond its natural progression during active duty.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder, is denied because there is no credible evidence of such conditions prior to or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment during certain periods, warranting a TDIU. However, the Veteran was able to secure and maintain such employment at other times.

The Board has revised its March 2019 decision to reflect that new and material evidence was not required to reopen the Veteran's April 1999 claim for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia, as the exception to the requirement for new and material evidence had been triggered by relevant service records received in December 2013. The effective date of the grant of service connection will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's initial rating for supraventricular arrhythmia is granted at a 30% level. The case is remanded due to the need to obtain his complete service personnel file and potentially verify an in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for headaches, back injury, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depressive disorder) due to outstanding treatment records and the need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been reopened due to new evidence. His claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, eye condition (including as due to Camp Lejeune exposure), and acquired psychiatric disorder have all been remanded.

The Board denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including vertigo, right and left wrist disorders, sleep disorder, right shoulder disorder, lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, actinic keratosis, nasal polyps, squamous cell carcinoma, acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder, depression, anxiety disorder), eye disorder (vitreous syneresis, floaters, panniculi), right knee disorder, left knee disorder, hernia, pulmonary hypertension, and allergic rhinitis have been denied. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen service connection for PTSD was granted. Service connection for a cervical spine disorder, right hip disorder, and ovarian disorder were remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain has been reopened, and the Board has remanded his claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a higher rating for Hepatitis C. The VA will obtain additional medical records and provide supplemental opinions to address these issues.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and disability ratings for various conditions, including migraines, neck disability, back disability, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, diabetes, varicose veins of the left lower extremity, left shoulder disability, and anxiety. The Veteran's SSA records have not been associated with the claims file.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and further development of evidence. The appeal has been reopened based on new evidence related to in-service events.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for PTSD was granted. The claims for asbestos-related lung disability and psychiatric disability, including PTSD, were denied due to lack of evidence linking the disabilities to service. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was also denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and secondary substance abuse, is related to service. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, to include bipolar disorder, has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the Board found no new and material evidence to reopen them. The effective dates for grants of service connection or increased ratings were also denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to non-compliance with previous remand directives regarding new and material evidence and service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examinations for TBI and psychiatric disorders, which are intrinsically intertwined.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD have been reopened, but the Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service in Vietnam and a need for an addendum medical opinion on whether any acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service.