Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD has been reopened. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for lumbosacral or cervical strain, right knee strain, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability and gout have deteriorated to the point that he is unable to perform the essential functions of a manager or related field, necessitating further evaluation for retraining in another employment field.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, increased rating for residuals of a stress fracture of the left proximal third tibia, and entitlement to TDIU due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding treatment records and verification of claimed stressors. The Veteran is also scheduled for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his low back disability, BHL, tinnitus, and acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD. The case is remanded to determine if his current diagnoses are related to service and/or TBI.

The Veteran's migraine headaches and acquired psychiatric disorder, including recurrent major depressive disorder with psychotic features and depression NOS, are granted. Service connection for scars is denied as the effective date prior to April 17, 2013 cannot be established. The TDIU claim is remanded due to lack of a completed VA Form 21-8940 and incomplete SSA disability records. Service connection for tinnitus and carpal tunnel syndrome are also remanded.

Service connection for left arm carpal tunnel syndrome is granted as secondary to service-connected right arm disability.,An increased rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right wrist disability (post-traumatic arthritis) is denied.,The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's left arm disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability.,Anxiety reaction prior to April 25, 2016 was denied for a higher rating.,A 70 percent disability rating for anxiety reaction effective from April 25, 2016 was granted.,A 100 percent disability rating for anxiety reaction effective from July 11, 2017 was granted.

The Veteran's heart disability, which includes aortic heart valve disease, was granted a 100% evaluation effective from September 23, 2013. The Veteran's depressive disorder and hypertension were not found to warrant higher initial evaluations.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete records and need for further development, including obtaining inpatient treatment records from Fox Army Hospital and mental health treatment records. The VA will also provide an opinion on whether any of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his active duty service, including a reported in-service sexual assault.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's complete service treatment records are incomplete and needs to be obtained. The claims for service connection will be remanded until VA can obtain these records.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than May 31, 2002, for the grant of service connection for paranoid schizophrenia is denied. The Board finds that there was no prior unadjudicated claim of service connection for paranoid schizophrenia.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia with episodes of psychosis and PTSD. Service connection is denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than schizophrenia and PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder as there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and active service. The effective date for the 30% rating for two vessel CAD is set at November 15, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for acid reflux as secondary to obstructive sleep apnea is denied.,The Veteran's claim for headaches is granted, with the Board finding that there is at least equipoise evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service.,The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression) is granted, as the Board finds his statements credible regarding in-service events and concludes that his current diagnosis of depression is related to these events.,The Veteran's claims for a left hand/wrist condition and bilateral foot condition are remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's claim for a left ear hearing loss disability is remanded for an appropriate VA examination, including consideration of aggravation by service-connected right ear hearing loss and/or tinnitus.,The Veteran's claim for a respiratory disability is remanded for readjudication based on additional medical records.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and schizophrenia, finding that the casualty list from no-quarter.org was not a valid service department record.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for allergies and denied claims for service connection for liver disease, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), a right knee disability, and a left knee disability. The issues of service connection for these conditions are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, clinical peripheral radiculopathy of the upper extremities, osteoarthritis of the bilateral knees, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision also remanded several issues related to his right wrist disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder abscess, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of current disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disorder, COPD with asthma, and OSA. The acquired psychiatric disability claim is remanded due to conflicting diagnoses.