Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, type II diabetes mellitus, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to type II diabetes mellitus are granted.,The Veteran's claim for reopening of service connection for a psychiatric disability is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal in August 2020.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including those related to prostate cancer, thyroid condition, bilateral cataracts disability, respiratory condition (blood clots in the lungs), bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorder, left corneal dystrophy, hypertension, hernia condition, residuals of gallbladder removal, and residuals of electric shock. The claims are being remanded due to incomplete or inaccurate factual bases for previous opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and sleep disorder was granted in a May 2019 rating decision. The claims for inflammation of the joints, chronic fatigue syndrome, anemia, elevated white cell blood count (WCB) and chronic blood disorder, lymphedema, postsurgical hypothyroidism, residuals of radiation exposure, sleep apnea, low back disability, bilateral hip disability, and bilateral knee pain are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) due to insufficient evidence on file. The Veteran's in-service stressors include seeing, transporting, and disposing of dead bodies during his time in Korea.

The Veteran's Cluster B personality traits are not considered a disability for VA compensation purposes, and service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but the appeals are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran does not have a current disability and there is no causal relationship between any in-service stressors and his current condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left leg disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a cervical spine disability due to procedural issues. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment, leading to a grant of TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case because an addendum opinion is needed to address whether the Veteran's hypertension is related to service, especially considering his pre-hypertension in service and his use of Ambien for insomnia.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder has been rated at 50 percent since July 14, 2015. The Board has remanded the issue for further consideration as it may warrant a higher rating.

The Board has denied service connection for a neck disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder and PTSD), and a headache disorder. The Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, bilateral foot disability, and left ankle disability are remanded.,Service connection is not granted for the Veteran’s claimed conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to service.

The Board denied service connection for psychiatric disabilities other than PTSD, PTSD, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, neck disability, and both knee disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection was not granted as the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of any of these conditions at the time of his claims.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for dermatophytosis prior to January 16, 2019 and thereafter is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a headache disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood) have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service causation or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for back pain, right hip pain, left knee lateral meniscal tear, acquired psychiatric disorder, left hip disorder, and right knee disorder. The issues include determining whether new and material evidence was obtained to reopen these claims, as well as addressing the severity of the Veteran's service-connected foot disabilities and evaluating his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions in service or related to service.

The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for drug-induced lupus, but remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression).,Service connection was not granted for erectile dysfunction due to lack of a causal link between in-service treatment and current condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional evidence and a medical opinion regarding whether the appellant was insane at the time of his discharge from service, which could potentially allow him to receive VA benefits despite his character of discharge.