Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete information about the appellant's active duty periods.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are service-connected, but her joint pain, muscle aches, dizziness, chronic fatigue with sleep difficulty, thyroid cancer, bilateral lower extremity neurological condition (RLS), and acquired psychiatric disorder are not service-connected.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims, including for rheumatoid arthritis, an allergy disability, asthma, and a psychiatric disability (including PTSD and agoraphobia), due to the need for additional development. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability is also being remanded as it includes allegations related to in-service sexual assault.

The Board has determined that the claim regarding an effective date prior to May 17, 1978, for the award of service connection for a psychiatric disability (including schizophrenia) must be dismissed as it was not properly appealed.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are all granted as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's depression is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee injury.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 10 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 20 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric disorder and respiratory conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's disabilities, including low back disability, lateral collateral ligament strain of the left knee, erectile dysfunction, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and psychiatric disability, are being remanded for further evaluation due to a lack of recent VA treatment records and possible private care.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's low back disability and acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and a skin disability are granted. The appeals for left and right carpel tunnel syndrome, both secondary to cervical spine degenerative changes, are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for IBS and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to unverified in-service stressors and a need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders. The VA needs to obtain a new opinion from an appropriate examiner that addresses whether any current diagnoses are related to service and if so, what type of service connection is applicable.

The Board has decided to remand three issues: service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to all service-connected disabilities, rating higher than 10 percent for the service-connected migraine disability, and rating higher than 40 percent for the service-connected back disability. Additional development is needed.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral knee disability and remanded the issues of service connection for a bilateral foot disability and psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD. The Veteran's claims are being returned to VA for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a mental disorder and a sleep disorder, finding that there was no evidence of current disabilities or a causal link to service.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to July 30, 2014 for the grant of service connection for schizophrenia and Dependents' Educational Assistance are being remanded due to issues with the issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant died before a decision could be made on his claims.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including scheduling VA examinations to determine the etiology of pes planus and psychiatric disabilities, as well as eligibility for nonservice-connected pension.