Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension, left upper extremity neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent from April 1, 2011.,The appeal is remanded to determine if the Veteran should be granted a higher rating for his left shoulder disability.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, entitlement to increased rating for left wrist healed fracture with degenerative disease, and entitlement to increased rating for right elbow chronic epicondylitis.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including alcohol use disorder and depressive disorder due to incomplete or conclusory opinions in previous examinations. The Veteran's complete records need to be associated with the claims file, and a new VA examination is required.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected lumbar strain disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, compensable rating for right ear hearing loss, and service connection for erectile dysfunction. The evaluation of residuals from left great toe fracture is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD were denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or a link between the claimed conditions and service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depression) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The low back disability claim is remanded for a VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lung condition, to include the residuals of a collapsed lung. The Veteran was not found to have any current respiratory disability that is related to her active military service.,The Board also denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for blood clots. There is no evidence in the record showing that she has had a blood clot-related disability during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to the unavailability of his service treatment records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as insomnia), a bilateral shoulder disability, a lumbar spine disability, residuals of malaria, and a sinus disability. The decision also denied initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been withdrawn by his representative.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD and major depressive disorder), hypertension, transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), and erectile dysfunction (ED) due to in-service stressors. The Veteran's lay statements regarding continuity of symptomatology will be considered.

The Veteran's lumbar osteoarthritis to include lumbar strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine was granted service connection with an effective date of September 12, 2016. The Veteran's sleep apnea (claimed as sleep disturbances) and acquired psychiatric disorder were denied service connection.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's cervical spine, foot, and psychiatric conditions. The main focus is on determining whether these conditions are service-connected or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spinal stenosis.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted service connection, but his hypertension, inguinal hernia, and headaches are denied as they did not begin during service or are not related to in-service events.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is rated at 100 percent for the period from August 5, 1975 to January 31, 1993. The issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to February 1, 1993 is moot.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disorder, bilateral eye disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not support the claims based on direct service connection due to lack of in-service diagnosis or exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder due to new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for PTSD, left knee disorder, and low back disorder are all remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the reopening of the left knee disorder claim.