Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to potential exposure to Agent Orange and asbestos in service, as well as the cause of death. Additional development is needed regarding the USS Haleakala's location during the relevant time period.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral eye disability, bilateral hearing loss, epilepsy, and a psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD) have been dismissed. The appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disability is being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and failure to obtain information regarding the Veteran's PTSD stressor. The case will be further developed for these issues.

The Board dismissed the claim for left thumb condition as it was withdrawn by the appellant. The issues of rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss, entitlement to a separate rating for a psychiatric impairment (depression and anxiety) as a manifestation of service-connected hearing loss, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination and opinion regarding his acquired psychiatric disability. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a traumatic brain injury, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a sleep disorder due to the Veteran's failure to report for scheduled VA examinations. The appeals are now pending again.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical spine disability, right and left upper extremity disabilities, acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and radiculopathy are denied. The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective July 17, 2015.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for a right knee disability is granted. The Board has remanded all issues, including service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a skin disability was dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD, is granted based on evidence showing that it is related to active duty service. The Board also found that the Veteran's hypertension may be secondary to his service-connected PTSD.,The case is remanded to determine if the Veteran's hypertension is due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD and a left shoulder disability due to lack of corroborated in-service stressors and insufficient evidence linking current disabilities to service, respectively. The case is remanded for further development including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling an examination for the left shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various lower extremity disabilities, including right hip, left hip, right ankle, left ankle, and right foot disabilities, as secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the petitions to reopen claims for service connection for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder due to lack of new and material evidence, as the submitted evidence was either cumulative or redundant.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension (HTN), and hypothyroidism were dismissed. The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted. Other claims are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence. Additional development is needed, including an addendum opinion on whether the Veteran's epilepsy is related to Gulf War exposures.

The Board has granted separate ratings for the Veteran's right knee meniscal impairment and instability, increased ratings for his psychiatric disability, and TDIU. The Veteran wishes to withdraw all remaining issues associated with the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. The Board has also remanded several issues, including those related to bilateral hearing loss, arthritis of the right elbow, multiple fractures of the mandible, sleep apnea, and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, was granted service connection.,The Veteran's sleep apnea and headache disorder were also granted as secondary to the now service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a respiratory disability and an acquired psychiatric disability due to in-service environmental exposures. The Veteran's respiratory disabilities are granted, but his psychiatric disabilities remain under review.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for clarification on whether there is clear and unmistakable evidence that the Veteran's schizophrenia did not increase in severity during his active duty training.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and adjustment disorder, have been reopened. The claim of service connection for a low back disorder has also been remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.