Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is associated with his service-connected cold injury residuals of the left hand and right hand disabilities, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition as secondary to those disabilities.

The Veteran's schizophrenia is rated at 100% from November 21, 2013. The effective date for service connection of schizophrenia is set to the date of application to reopen in November 21, 2013. TDIU was denied as his other disabilities preclude him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate VA examinations and opinions that did not consider a conceded in-service stressor or apply the DSM-IV criteria. The Veteran also submitted additional evidence since the May 2019 CAVC decision, which necessitates further review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than alcohol use disorder, to include anxiety disorder, is denied. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a psychiatric disability other than alcohol use disorder. Service connection cannot be granted for alcohol dependence on the basis of service incurrence or aggravation as a matter of law. Regarding the claim for secondary service connection for an alcohol use disorder, the case is remanded to obtain an addendum opinion from the May 2018 VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's alcohol use disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically depression, is caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including headaches, low back disability, knee and shin disabilities, stomach/digestive issues, radiculopathy, and a psychiatric condition are remanded due to insufficient medical evidence on file. The Veteran is presumed sound upon entry into service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection to an acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the need for a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's original claim for service connection for a heart condition was denied in an August 1987 rating decision, and new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim. The claims for service connection for other conditions were also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The earlier effective date claim for the thoracolumbar spine disability was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and unclear reasoning behind the assigned rating for entrapment neuropathy. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is not yet adjudicated.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment during the period of October 28, 2009 to February 4, 2013. The Board denied his claim for TDIU as he was employed full-time throughout this period.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple disabilities remains pending and requires further development. The Board has ordered additional examinations to address the etiology of his claimed conditions, as well as to determine if there are any new or material issues that need to be addressed.

The Board has dismissed all the claims of service connection due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric disorder during the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided for the TBI claim is inadequate and remanded to provide an addendum opinion. The same applies to the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, headaches, and tinnitus as they are inextricably intertwined with the TBI claim.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and remanded the issue of a compensable rating for migraines.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sarcoidosis and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and TDIU have been withdrawn. The Board has also remanded his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.