Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has referred the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, which may be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disabilities. The TDIU issue is also remanded due to its inextricability with this referral.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a traumatic brain injury, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder) were denied. The decision also noted that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of a traumatic brain injury or an acquired psychiatric disorder to include a major depressive disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran may be entitled to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to April 8, 2003 based on evidence suggesting he was unemployable due to his service-connected schizophrenia. The case is being remanded for further review by the Director of Compensation Service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of right ear hearing loss and has not had one at any time during the pendency of the claim or recent to the filing of the claim.,For the left ear, the Veteran's disability is manifested by no more than an average puretone threshold, with speech recognition scores of no lower than 100 percent.

An increased rating of 80 percent for neuropathy of the left brachial plexus is granted as of October 6, 2017. The Veteran's psychiatric disability has been rated at 100 percent.,The SMC claim is remanded due to the presence of additional service-connected disabilities and potential confinement issues.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability, including disc disease, is denied because the condition did not manifest during service and there is no evidence of an in-service injury or event. The current condition is related to post-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining psychiatric medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine if service connection can be established for bilateral pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, and a psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of such disorders.

The Veteran's claims for neck condition, middle shoulder neurological disability, and right ankle condition have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for back condition has been granted with new evidence submitted since the June 1988 rating decision. The claim for acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and bipolar disorder) has also been reopened due to new evidence, but a final determination on this issue is pending.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a need for additional medical opinions regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and its impact on Parents' Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure. The increased rating claims for knees and the psychiatric disorder are remanded, as well as the claim for service connection for colon cancer and headaches.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for chronic undifferentiated schizophrenia, major depression, and psychosis due to new evidence being requested. The PTSD claim is also remanded as the Veteran's response was illogical and unresponsive.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a neck disorder, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and to consider all submitted evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension, were denied. The Board found that new evidence was not submitted to reopen the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. The Board has also determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is secondary to his service-connected status post bilateral inguinal hernia repairs, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for scars associated with his inguinal repairs is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for chronic b-cell leukemia, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and tinnitus due to potential in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's VA medical records must be obtained, and a VA examination is required to determine if he has any current blood disorders or other disabilities that may be related to his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's death was due to ALS, and he had already received RH insurance. The appellant applied for SRH insurance on behalf of the deceased, but since the application was not filed during his lifetime, eligibility is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for hearing loss and tinnitus is granted. The claims of service connection for various conditions, including bone islands, red blood cell condition, high liver levels, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and anxiety), high muscle enzymes, joint pain, teeth loss, back and spinal degeneration, sinusitis, asthma, fungus of the feet, deformity of the toes, left foot, deformity of the toes, right foot, and sleep apnea are remanded due to lack of sufficient evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD with schizophrenia and alcohol abuse is rated at a 70 percent rating for the period prior to March 10, 2016.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for TBI and related issues, including psychiatric disorder, dizziness, speech impairment, fatigue, and dull headaches.