Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and other conditions were not incurred or aggravated during his military service. The appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his in-service exposures.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination findings and a need for an adequate VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claims of service connection for psychiatric disability, other than PTSD and unspecified schizophrenia. Service connection is now established for these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and for initial compensable ratings for residuals of right inguinal hernia repair and a right inguinal hernioplasty scar. The TDIU claim is remanded.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection of various disabilities, including low back disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability, are remanded due to failure to provide adequate notice regarding scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for the following reasons: obtaining outstanding SSA records, obtaining any outstanding private and VA treatment records, scheduling a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his acquired psychiatric disability, and readjudicating the claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are granted service connection. However, his back disorder and bilateral knee disorder do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there was no credible evidence of in-service stressors and concluding that his current acquired psychiatric disorder did not preexist service.

The Board has determined that VA examinations are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his claimed conditions, which include gastrointestinal issues and varicose veins. The examinations will also assess whether any of these conditions are related to herbicide exposure in Korea.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to insufficient evidence and need for further medical opinions. The Veteran's service connection claims are not granted as there is no competent medical evidence linking his current conditions to active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic headaches, chronic kidney stones, a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder), and OSA have all been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence to support the Veteran’s assertions of in-service onset or relationship to service.,There was no current diagnosis of these conditions at any time during the pendency of the claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and arthritis of the bilateral hands have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to active duty service.

The Veteran's headaches, residuals of head injury, are rated at the maximum schedular rating (50%) and no higher due to their severity. The RO has granted an increased disability rating from May 8, 2013.,Service connection for a spine condition is denied as there is no evidence that the Veteran's current diagnosis began during service or is related to any in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression) have been reopened, and the appeal is granted to this extent only. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus was granted. The Board found new and material evidence supporting the reopening of these claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the spine and remanded his claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder, a left arm disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD, anxiety and depression).

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder rotator cuff tear and acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and insomnia. The Veteran's right shoulder disability is found to have begun during active service.

The Veteran's claim to reopen the service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, was granted. However, his specific claims for PTSD and MDD were denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA treatment records and potential in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The claims will be further developed with examinations by appropriate clinicians.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent for a mental disorder (insomnia with major depressive disorder) since August 21, 2012.