Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to additional development being needed, and a new Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) must be issued.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to issues related to breathing problems, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The appeals are being returned for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple issues are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including treatment records and information regarding her reported stressors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding no in-service injury or disease to which the current condition could be related.

The Board has found that additional evidence was added to the claims file since the April 2016 SOC and requires remand for further action, including obtaining any outstanding VA and private treatment records.

The Board has dismissed the service connection claims for eye strain, facial tick, dental damage, and leg lesions as they were withdrawn by the Veteran's authorized representative. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder) is granted.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, GERD, right knee disability, left knee disability, and elevated cholesterol. The remaining issues were remanded.,The Board denied service connection for a right foot disability, left foot disability, right lower extremity circulatory disability, left lower extremity circulatory disability, and low back disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions due to incomplete medical records. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization forms for Brick Hospital, Ocean Medical Center, and Dr. Chulie.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining his service personnel records and any outstanding VA and private treatment records. The claims will be remanded to allow for further action.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and other issues are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and clarification regarding his in-service injuries and stressors. The claims for type II diabetes mellitus, nerve pain in the feet, coronary artery disease, sleep apnea, and hypertension will also be remanded as they may be related to exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations to address service connection claims and rating issues. The Veteran's incarceration in a prison facility is noted.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service connected.,The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is granted as service connected.,Service connection for a bilateral foot condition remains remanded.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection claims for various disabilities has been dismissed due to their death.

The Veteran's claims for peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cardiovascular disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or service connection based on exposure to herbicide agents. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence does not support service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, finding that it is proximately due to and/or aggravated by his service-connected psoriasis disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, as secondary to an acquired psychiatric condition, is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a current diagnosis of sleep apnea.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for TBI is denied. The record lacks any indication of a TBI during his period of active duty service.,The Veteran's bilateral foot condition (including pes planus) is granted as service-connected, with the onset occurring in 1989 and aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that new evidence received warrants readjudication of the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The appellant's right shoulder, left shoulder, right hip, left hip, residuals of a head injury, psychiatric disability (PTSD), methylation process dysfunction, combat training fatigue, and aging disabilities are all denied as service connection is not warranted.,The Board has determined that the evidence does not support service connection for any of the claimed conditions. The appellant's claims have been remanded to allow for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, finding that there was no evidence of a pre-existing condition and that any current psychiatric disability is not related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and an acquired psychiatric disability due to insufficient evidence in the record.