Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, diverticulitis, and a psychiatric disability are all denied.,Service connection cannot be established as the claimed conditions are not shown to have been incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's psychiatric disorders preexisted service and were aggravated by it. The Veteran is asked to provide records from a behavioral health facility and undergo an examination to clarify these issues.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations obtained in March 2020 are inadequate and requires additional medical opinions to address all of the Veteran's diagnosed disabilities, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and a right shoulder condition. The matter is therefore being remanded for these missing records and for medical opinions based on a complete factual history.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, excluding PTSD, as there is no evidence of a current psychiatric disability diagnosed in accordance with the DSM-5 during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to potential inconsistencies in medical opinions and need for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence to show that his pre-existing anxiety and depression were aggravated by service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a back disability, bilateral knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD). The decision also granted a 10% rating for a facial scar.,The Veteran’s claim for an eye disability remains pending as there are missing records that need to be obtained.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. Diabetes mellitus type II is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure, left and right foot neuropathy are secondary to diabetes mellitus, a skin condition (including blisters) is presumed due to herbicide exposure or diabetes mellitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder is presumed due to service in Vietnam.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision will be reconsidered with additional records and a new opinion.

The claims for TBI, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, breathing disorder (including respiratory and sinus conditions), tinnitus, and hepatitis C have been remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) are being remanded due to the need for further development of the medical evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to the lack of evidence showing a link between current symptoms and military service. The claims for higher staged ratings for left knee disorder, right hip disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, migraine headaches, and hypertension are remanded as additional development is needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and providing a supplemental opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) due to personal assault. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records and to clarify his reported in-service hospitalization. The claims for service connection are therefore being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) as the evidence did not show a link between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's claimed conditions, including ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, respiratory disorder, and sleep apnea, were not found to be service-connected. The Board determined that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision on the hearing loss claim is based on a lack of evidence showing that the Veteran's current hearing loss began during or was caused by his military service, while the psychiatric disorder claim requires additional medical opinion to determine if it is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of his claim for allergic rhinitis. The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen his previously denied claims for panic disorder, sinus condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder), and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), personality disorders, and substance abuse disorder. The evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD or any other current acquired psychiatric disorder.