Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chlamydia is denied, and her claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition (PTSD and major depressive disorder) is granted. The case is remanded for further development regarding a low back condition.

The Veteran's petitions to reopen claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and bilateral knee degenerative arthritis were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral leg disability (to include arthritis) is remanded as the nature and etiology of this condition must be determined.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD and bipolar) is remanded as new evidence has been submitted that may support his claim on the merits.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is remanded as the nature and etiology of this condition must be determined.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD is allowed. The appeal is granted to that extent only, and the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD is remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's psychiatric disability may be related to his service-connected hearing loss and/or tinnitus, but needs further examination to determine this.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, and a right knee disability have been reopened. However, the preponderance of evidence does not support these claims.,Service connection was denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to lack of in-service diagnosis or treatment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to address the issue of service connection for a psychiatric disorder. The Board finds that the current evaluation for left upper extremity radiculopathy should be granted at 30 percent, but no higher.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, specifically whether they are related to service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD and antisocial personality disorder. The Board found no credible evidence of a current diagnosis of these conditions within the appellate period.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's VA treatment records and his VR&E files, as these documents are relevant to the issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for psychiatric, gastrointestinal, and skin disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service records show symptoms of gastrointestinal issues during service, but no definitive diagnosis or connection was made.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, left leg and right leg disorders due to insufficient evidence of an in-service stressor for PTSD. The issues regarding the service-connected disabilities are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for left ankle condition, lumbosacral strain, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to potential aggravation by service-connected right ankle condition. The VA examiners are instructed to provide opinions on whether these conditions were caused or aggravated by the right ankle condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining additional medical records. The issues of a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral inguinal hernia, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and entitlement to TDIU are all being remanded.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depressive disorder due to new evidence received since the last final denial. The claims are now remanded for further development including obtaining medical records and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disorder, neck/cervical spine disorder, respiratory disorder (including bronchitis and COPD), and acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, neurological impairments of the upper extremities, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been dismissed. The Board found no evidence of a service-connected condition related to these issues.

The Board dismissed the claims for diabetes mellitus type II and schizophrenia. The hearing loss disability claim was reopened, but the issues of left hip, right hip, back, and headache disabilities were remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and consideration, including VA examinations and review of new evidence. The issues include service connection for a bilateral ankle condition, an acquired psychiatric disability, and a higher rating for pes planus.