Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require him to be in need of regular aid and attendance, as he is unable to perform daily activities without assistance due to his multiple conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including thoracic spine disability, ulcers, psychiatric disability (claimed as depression), migraine headaches, sleep disorder (insomnia), somatic symptom disorder, sexual dysfunction, muscle weakness disorder, nerve pain disorder (secondary to spinal disability), and left shoulder disability have all been denied. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for chest pain, ear disorder, dental impairment, allergies, and psychiatric impairment due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss claim is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, as there is no persuasive evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric condition related to military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal, finding that a timely substantive appeal was filed in response to the November 2019 SOC for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between his current diagnosis and in-service stressors.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is denied, but the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and GAD) is granted. The psychiatric disorder is linked to a service-connected condition.

The appeal to reopen the claim for service connection for schizophrenia is granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a disability manifested by nerve damage to any and/or all part(s) of the body is denied.

The Board has remanded several claims related to the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, including evaluations in excess of certain percentages, effective date determinations, and TDIU issues. The specific reasons for remand include inadequate analysis of symptomatology and evidence regarding the severity of the conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that his current mental health condition clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service and was not aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as presumptively related to herbicide exposure under the PACT Act. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and hepatitis C are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to a lack of certain reports regarding herbicide agent exposure at Fort Drum.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for hepatitis C due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claim will be remanded as it is related to a previously referred issue.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's vertigo secondary to his service-connected tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's right elbow disability is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's bilateral upper extremity finger and/or hand disability is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder (GERD) is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's hernia is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's hypertension to include as due to Camp Lejeune service is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The appeal for service connection of a sleep disability is dismissed. The Board has remanded several other claims, including those for psychiatric disabilities, thyroid conditions, hair loss, and nerve disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple issues has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his infertility claim. The remaining claims have been remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 30 percent for a left ankle disability, service connection for psychiatric, low back, left knee, and right ankle disabilities as secondary to the service-connected left ankle disability, and TDIU. The Veteran is required to provide VA with any outstanding private treatment records related to her claims and to complete forms for tax returns.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his service-connected psychiatric disability and its impact on the claimed ankle, carpal tunnel syndrome, foot, cervical spine, lumbosacral spine, and right knee disabilities.,Specifically, a VA examination will be conducted to determine if any of these disabilities are related to or aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's schizophrenia first manifested during his military service and granted service connection for this condition.