Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been remanded due to the need for additional development, including an opinion on whether his mental health conditions are proximately due or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine stenosis, sleep apnea, bilateral lumbar radiculopathy (claimed as bilateral lower extremity numbness), acquired psychiatric disorder, and headaches, all secondary to his service-connected left and right knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of schizophrenia. The Veteran's stressor claim is also pending.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder is denied, and the claims for increased ratings for left shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, GIST, and GERD are all denied. The claim to reopen service connection for a left elbow and bilateral hand disorder was granted due to new evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition and neuropathy, as these conditions are claimed to be related to his service-connected bilateral pes planus. The case is being returned to the Board for further examination and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, right knee disorder, and neck disorder was reopened. Service connection is granted for the acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, and right knee disorder. The claim for service connection for a neck disorder is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claim on appeal can be adjudicated, and has therefore remanded the case for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an addendum medical opinion regarding secondary service connection for upper back disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a respiratory condition other than sarcoidosis and a psychiatric disability, both related to service-connected sarcoidosis. The decision also includes a request for a higher rating for uveitis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded to verify the stressor and determine if it is related to his service. The right ear hearing loss disability is also being remanded as there are no clear and unmistakable evidence that it was not aggravated by service, and a left middle finger disorder is being remanded to determine its etiology.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD will be considered based on the verified stressor. The right ear hearing loss disability may be related to his service due to exposure to noise during service. The left middle finger disorder needs further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. These conditions are found to be related to military service or hazardous noise exposure.,Service connection is granted as the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but remanded the issues of service connection for gout, a right ring finger injury, and a low back disorder due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his schizophrenia substantially contributed to his death caused by a life of illegal drug abuse and subsequent Hepatitis C. The issue of DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is dismissed as moot.

The Board has granted service connection for gastric cancer and liver cancer, both linked to herbicide agent exposure. The cause of the Veteran's death is also considered service-connected due to his gastric cancer. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss, arrhythmia, high cholesterol, an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely depression), and chloracne.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the submission of new medical evidence since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The issues include service connection for various foot, ankle, back, wrist, skin, and shoulder conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis, meningitis to include as secondary to sinusitis, and encephalopathy to include as secondary to sinusitis. The remaining claims of service connection are remanded due to the possibility that they may be related to the Veteran's service-connected meningitis.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for their acquired psychiatric disorder, including insomnia, depression, and PTSD, has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, a compensable disability rating for hearing loss prior to March 30, 2020, and a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to May 24, 2012 have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals.

The Veteran's claim for eligibility for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant was denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, headaches, and left ring finger injury due to incomplete development. The Veteran's claim of CUE in the March 2015 rating decision is denied.