Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened and granted. The claim for prostate disability, which is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, was denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of paranoid schizophrenia has been dismissed due to his request for withdrawal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations related to his service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to incomplete records, including SSA disability benefits records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's left knee and low back disabilities are also being examined to determine their current severity.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder and remanded it for further development.

Service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease has been granted. The Board also remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions secondary to thyroid cancer.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left foot hammer toes, right foot hammer toes, and ischemic heart disease have been denied. The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea has been granted. Service connection for acquired psychiatric disability (depressive disorder with anxious features) is also granted.,Service connection for left foot hammer toes and right foot hammer toes was not established as the evidence did not show a current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for sleep apnea, respiratory disability, back disability, fungal infection of the bilateral feet, and acquired psychiatric disability due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and causation of the Veteran's schizophrenia, which may be related to service. The claim will need further examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for hypertension was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claim.,The Veteran's appeals for hepatitis C and PTSD were also dismissed as he withdrew them prior to a decision being made.,The application to reopen claims for an acquired psychiatric disability (dysthymic disorder) and erectile dysfunction is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression) was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder during the period on appeal.,Service connection for postoperative herniated disc L4-5 with implanted spinal cord stimulator was granted, and the Veteran received a 40 percent evaluation effective December 2, 2011. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity was denied.,Service connection for left leg disorder (claimed as secondary to service-connected back disorder) is remanded due to conflicting opinions on its etiology.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are related to his reported military sexual trauma (MST).

The Board has denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, including mood disorder. The claim of service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for updated medical records and a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, requires further examination and review due to inadequate previous VA examination under DSM-IV criteria. The case is being remanded for a new examination conducted under DSM-V.

A higher rating of 10 percent is granted for service-connected hypertension. Service connection for psychiatric disability and back disability are granted, but left knee disability remains remanded. Other claims related to these issues are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, Hypertensive Vascular Disease (claimed as High Blood Pressure), and Diabetes Mellitus due to lack of a VA examination for psychiatric disorders. The claims are inextricably intertwined with the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, polysubstance abuse, and PTSD, is related to his service in Vietnam. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, prostate disorder, urinary incontinence, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD and 'nerves') due to service. The issues are related to exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and is granted.,The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, has been reopened. However, the claim remains denied as there is no confirmed in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is remanded due to the unverified in-service stressor. The Board has recharacterized the claim as one for an acquired psychiatric disorder and ordered a VA examination.