Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right arm disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder (unspecified depressive disorder) as there is no evidence to support that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and for obtaining additional VA treatment records, including from Kaiser. The claim will be reconsidered after these records are reviewed.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are attributable to alcohol and cannabis use disorders, which preclude service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and lack of a proper medical opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted as service-connected.,Right knee patella chondromalacia and DDD of the lumbar spine are granted as secondary to a service-connected left knee condition.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and remanded the issue of service connection for a low back disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for throat cancer with loss of salivary glands, psychiatric disability, cognitive disability, autonomic neurological disability, orthostatic hypotension, left eye disability, and residuals of strokes due to new evidence received after a previous denial. The Veteran's representative requested an examination to determine if his throat cancer is related to service exposure to toxic chemicals.

Service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder) has been granted.,The Veteran's claims were reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia and a neck/back disability, finding that new evidence supports the reopening of these claims. The Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders. The VA will attempt to corroborate the reported in-service stressors and schedule a psychiatric examination to determine if any diagnosed conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was previously granted, and the appeal is dismissed. The Board has now granted service connection for a schizophrenic spectrum disorder, finding that it cannot be reasonably disassociated from his active duty service.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a right knee disorder, and a left knee disorder. The case is now being remanded to obtain additional evidence and conduct further examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), diabetes mellitus, multiple myeloma, ischemic heart disease, and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, which he contends is related to herbicide exposure. The Board notes that while there is no evidence of in-country service in Vietnam, the Veteran served in Korea during a period when herbicides were used along the DMZ. Further verification of his claimed exposure is needed.,The Veteran seeks service connection for multiple myeloma, which he contends is related to herbicide exposure. The Board notes that while there is no evidence of in-country service in Vietnam, the Veteran served in Korea during a period when herbicides were used along the DMZ. Further verification of his claimed exposure is needed.,The Veteran seeks service connection for ischemic heart disease, which he contends is related to herbicide exposure. The Board notes that while there is no evidence of in-country service in Vietnam, the Veteran served in Korea during a period when herbicides were used along the DMZ. Further verification of his claimed exposure is needed.,The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension, which he contends is secondary to diabetes mellitus. The Board notes that while there is no evidence of in-country service in Vietnam, the Veteran served in Korea during a period when herbicides were used along the DMZ. Further verification of his claimed exposure is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and conflicting opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, specifically depression and neurocognitive disorder, which may be related to in-service exposure to ionizing radiation. The case will need additional development including obtaining relevant medical records and a dose assessment.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for arthritis is denied.,Service connection for PTSD is denied.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include depression, is denied.

The reduction in disability rating from 50 percent to 30 percent for service-connected acquired psychiatric disability effective October 1, 2014 was not proper and is void ab initio. The claim for an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability is remanded.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for a compensable evaluation of his service-connected left ankle contusion and entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The appeal was withdrawn by the Veteran prior to the decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a skin condition (chloracne) were denied as there was no competent medical evidence establishing the presence of these conditions or their relationship to service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information and missed appointments, requiring further development including scheduling a VA examination for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for his acquired psychiatric condition, service connection for a right wrist condition, respiratory disorder, allergies, and gastrointestinal disorder. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine the current severity of his psychiatric disability, nature and etiology of his right wrist condition, respiratory and sinus conditions, and whether his ulcerative proctitis is related to his service-connected PTSD.