Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD). The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his active duty service. Service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) are remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected varicose veins and hemorrhoids were granted. The claim for service connection for ulcerative colitis and PTSD was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims for thoracic back strain, right shoulder impingement, and acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and anxiety disorder) are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder and asthma. The Veteran is seeking service connection for her acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) and asthma.

The Board has granted an effective date of August 7, 2000 for service connection of polysubstance abuse. The Veteran's other claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but the issues of secondary service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension to this condition have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a psychiatric disability, including as secondary to service-connected disabilities due to insufficient evidence to rebut the presumption of regularity in the mailing of the January 2017 notification of the September 2016 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for additional development due to lack of substantial compliance with previous directives. The Veteran is seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including a nervous condition and depression, claimed as due to military sexual trauma (MST).

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal for service connection for schizophrenia and depression, finding that his character of discharge did not bar VA benefits. The Board also found that he was insane at the time of the in-service offenses leading to his discharge.

The Board has remanded the cases for further medical development due to new and material evidence being added since prior final denials. The skin condition claim is related to in-service chemical/POL exposures, while the psychiatric disorder claim is related to a severe skin condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no current diagnosis of a psychiatric condition and that any symptoms are not related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for melanoma, bilateral hearing loss, a respiratory condition (previously evaluated as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and an acquired psychiatric disorder including depression and memory loss are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, specifically schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. The examiner is required to provide an opinion on whether these conditions clearly and unmistakably pre-existed service or are otherwise related to service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including sciatica, back disability, right hip and knee disabilities, cold injury residuals, PTSD, chronic sinusitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, skin disorder of the feet, fibromyalgia, stroke with left-side balance impairment, headaches (migraines), degenerative bone disease, heart disability, muscle pain and soreness, and a left eye disability. The Board found no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to potential intermediate stop of obesity between these conditions and the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder due to a lack of VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a psychiatric disorder was denied as the earliest valid claim was filed on October 21, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to new evidence submitted after a previous denial.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a failure to secure certain VA treatment records and National Guard service treatment records. The appellant's testimony at the July 2020 hearing is also included in the new evidentiary record.