Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural errors and insufficient examination, requiring a new VA examination and opinion.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, is found to be secondary to his service-connected left shoulder degenerative joint disease.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to the service-connected left shoulder degenerative joint disease has been granted.

The Veteran's arthritis is not service-connected as it did not manifest during service or within one year of separation and there is no credible evidence linking the condition to asbestos exposure.,There is no current breathing disability that can be linked to asbestos exposure. The Veteran does not have a diagnosed breathing disability, but his shortness of breath was attributed to congestive heart failure (CHF).,The Veteran's headaches are not service-connected as there is no evidence linking the condition to service or any service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's depression is not service-connected as it did not manifest during service and there is no credible evidence linking the condition to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for psychiatric disability was denied in April 1990 due to lack of evidence. The Board has now reopened the claim and remanded it for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a PTSD examination.

The Board dismissed the appeal for an initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disorder, hypertension, prostate disorder, acquired psychiatric disorders (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorder), and respiratory disorders (including asbestosis and COPD) have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression). The appeal for tinnitus was granted, with a disability rating of 30 percent. Service connection for persistent insomnia is also granted.

The Veteran's appeal of the April 2016 SOC is granted, and his underlying claims for service connection are reinstated.

The Board has remanded three issues: entitlement to service connection for PTSD, whether the reduction in the Veteran’s rating for bilateral hearing loss was proper, and TDIU due to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran is also required to provide additional evidence of his outstanding VA and private treatment records related to his claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's respiratory disability, presumed to be due to asbestos exposure in service, is denied.,The Veteran's headache disability is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety) is denied.

The Veteran's application for VR&E services was denied because the Board found that discontinuance of vocational rehabilitation and employment (VR&E) services based on a negative feasibility determination was proper due to his service-connected paranoid schizophrenia, which has been rated at 100 percent since April 14, 1998. The Veteran's difficulties with attention span and completing tasks were cited as reasons for the denial.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a cervical spine injury, and a brain injury. The effective dates for certain radiculopathy diagnoses are also being reviewed.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus is denied.,For the period on appeal prior to March 9, 2012, the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for a service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder are not met. From March 9, 2012, but not earlier, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease and acquired psychiatric disability rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 4, 2011. He was granted a TDIU effective September 30, 2006.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for psychiatric disability has been dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disability, neck disability, and headache disability. The claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals from shaving bumps, a low back disability, and a psychiatric disability due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and chronic headache disability, finding no current evidence of these conditions during the appeal period. The psychiatric claim is remanded.,Service connection was not granted for a chronic headache disability or hearing loss due to lack of current evidence meeting VA standards.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the Veteran's homelessness. The VA will attempt to obtain all necessary records, including from the Veteran's counsel and his service providers.