Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for erectile dysfunction and PTSD due to unclear diagnoses and lack of nexus opinions. A new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has a current diagnosis of erectile dysfunction, whether it is related to service or diabetes mellitus, and whether any acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his combat exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the claims for further examination and opinion regarding service connection, as the March 2019 VA examination is inadequate.

The Board has expanded the issue to include any acquired psychiatric disorder, as treatment records indicate the Veteran has diagnoses of other psychiatric disorders. The appeal is remanded due to issues with address verification and the need for additional information from the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neuropathy of the bilateral feet and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, depressive disorder and anxiety disorder) due to incomplete opinions regarding service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected left ankle sprain, status post Brostrom-Gould procedure, has been granted. The remaining issues of service connection for a left hip condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder) due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for a left shoulder disability, to include a rotator cuff tear and bursitis, is denied. The Board found no evidence of ankylosis or instability that would warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to outstanding private treatment records and the need to corroborate an in-service stressor. The Veteran's psychiatric, PVD of the LLE/RLE, and respiratory disorders are also being reviewed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates are denied and his claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete evidentiary development.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding no current disability and insufficient evidence of a link to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left vocal cord paresis due to non-service-connected thyroidectomy was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection, as there was no clinical evidence of continuous symptoms since separation and the underlying thyroid condition is not service connected. For TDIU, the Veteran's claim was also denied because she was not shown to be unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a respiratory disorder due to asbestos exposure is denied as there is no evidence of current respiratory disability.,Service connection is granted for left ear hearing loss, with the condition being presumed under the provisions of the PACT Act (Patient Care and Treatment Act).,The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and major depressive disorder) are remanded as they may be related to service. The claim for alcohol dependence secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder is also remanded.,Service connection is remanded for rheumatoid arthritis, with the issue being remanded due to conflicting medical opinions regarding its onset during active duty or post-service.,The Veteran's right shoulder disorder claim is remanded as it may be related to service.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left hip disability, right knee disability, and right shoulder disorder. The remand includes obtaining service personnel records, additional medical opinions, and a VA examination to assess the Veteran's current condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened and is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed neck and back disorders as well as his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and PTSD, finding that new evidence does not establish a current disability or link to service. The Board also found no credible opinion linking the Veteran's current conditions to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records, corroborating in-service stressors, and scheduling a psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left ear hearing loss and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder have been remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding an earlier effective date for his right hip disability rating. The claims of service connection for hypertension, heart disability, sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disorder, and acid reflux have been reopened due to new evidence received since previous decisions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to February 1, 2018, for dependency allowance benefits due to lack of evidence of claim and receipt of notice of dependents.