Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for multiple joint arthritis, left eye glaucoma, breathing disability, colon cancer, and psychiatric disorder due to lack of proper examination and evidence. The claim for sleep apnea is also remanded as new and material evidence was submitted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as a panic disorder, is found to be related to his active duty service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for improved pension benefits was denied as his income exceeded the maximum allowable pension rate. The Board found that the Veteran’s countable annual income, after deducting medical expenses, exceeded $16,051 and therefore did not meet the criteria for nonservice-connected pension.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD and depressive disorder) are remanded. The Board found that further efforts should be made to verify the stressor events and obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for Personality Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration.

The Board is unable to determine if the Veteran's schizophrenia contributed to his death by a traffic accident due to insufficient evidence. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand both issues for further examination and consideration of new evidence. The claim for service connection is reopened, but the issue regarding the evaluation of dermatophytosis remains under review.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral gout of the feet and sleep disability (insomnia) as these conditions are not related to military service.,Service connection was also denied for left and right knee disability, heart disability (stents in heart), hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, but denied service connection for right hip injury. The appeal is remanded to determine the etiology of the Veteran's PTSD and any other psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for traumatic brain injury, cataracts, dental disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, hearing loss, right leg/thigh disability, left leg disability, left hip disability, left knee disability, and removal of the right ovary have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal to reopen her claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected other specified trauma-related psychiatric disability resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a rating of 50 percent on and after April 25, 2016. However, the residuals of his left 5th metatarsal fracture have not been rated appropriately.,The Veteran's service-connected other specified trauma-related psychiatric disability resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a rating of 50 percent on and after April 25, 2016. The residuals of his left 5th metatarsal fracture have not been rated appropriately.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and prostate condition. The claim for service connection of these conditions is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of evidence demonstrating a current disability related to her in-service knee pain. The cardiac and psychiatric issues are remanded as additional medical opinions are needed.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder, increased evaluations for his bilateral knee disabilities, and nonservice-connected pension benefits. The Veteran must be provided with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder. If the examiner determines that the psychiatric disorder is not related to active duty service or a service-connected disability, they should provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for her right foot disability, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to an earlier effective date are being remanded. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for further investigation into the Veteran's in-service psychiatric history.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right thumb disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded due to insufficient evidence. The case will be reviewed again with the possibility of additional medical examination.

The Board denied service connection for alopecia and PTSD due to lack of current disability related to the conditions, despite a conceded in-service stressor event. The Veteran's private and VA treatment records did not show any diagnosis of alopecia or PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board denied the TDIU claim as there is no evidence that his service-connected conditions alone prevent him from obtaining or maintaining such employment.