Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, high cholesterol, chronic conjunctivitis, and psychiatric disabilities were denied. The Veteran was granted increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability, painful limited motion of the right knee, instability of the right knee, plantar fasciitis of the right foot, and plantar fasciitis of the left foot before specific dates. Other claims for service connection or increased ratings were remanded.

The Veteran is granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically bipolar II disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder.,Service connection is also granted for headaches.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD is remanded due to insufficient evidence in the current record.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD, but the rating assigned must be determined first. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it may impact the effective date for the PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and an increased rating for chronic laryngitis require additional development due to new evidence, need for a VA examination, and need to obtain private medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and requires additional examinations. The Veteran's left knee disability is not service connected, his acquired psychiatric disability (including anxiety and depression) may be related to service, and obstructive sleep apnea may also have a service origin.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen her service connection for hypertension as secondary to her service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence presented is in equipoise, with a positive nexus opinion from Dr. P., who opined that the Veteran’s hypertension was more likely than not caused by her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and depression as secondary to service-connected disabilities. Service connection was denied for hypertension, headache disorder, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to incomplete development, including obtaining VA treatment records, Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits determinations, and an addendum opinion on the etiology of her left thumb disability. The effective date issue is also being addressed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and bipolar disorder), due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claims are also remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current or previously-diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling appropriate examinations to address the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.,The Veteran has multiple issues on appeal that require further examination and review.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and factitious disorder, finding that the Veteran's reports of in-service stressors are not credible due to his diagnosed factitious disorder.

The Board has determined that an updated VA examination is required to determine if the Veteran meets the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, as his current symptoms may be related to undiagnosed PTSD from service. The Veteran's previous diagnoses of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and adjustment disorder are in conflict with a potential diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and lack of evidence. The Veteran is asked to provide additional information about his theories of entitlement.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations due to outstanding service treatment records, need for VA examinations, and inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's initial higher rating of 10 percent for left knee pellegrini-stieda syndrome (instability) is granted, effective November 18, 2010. The other service connection claims are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for residuals from a head injury, diabetes, and an acquired psychiatric disorder as there was no evidence of current disabilities or that they were incurred in service.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral pes planus was denied. The reduction of the left knee disability rating from 20% to 10% was not proper, and restoration of the 20% rating is granted. A higher (compensable) initial disability rating for right knee surgical scars is denied. An increased disability rating higher than 30% for residuals of right knee torn meniscus with chondromalacia is denied. An initial disability rating higher than 70% for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is denied. An initial disability rating higher than 10% for lumbar degenerative disc disease with spondylosis is denied. An initial disability rating higher than 10% for right lower extremity radiculopathy is denied. The effective date earlier than July 1, 2014 for the award of a 30 percent rating for the right knee disability is denied.

Your appeals have been dismissed because you requested to withdraw your appeal.