Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for increased rating, effective date, and TDIU are remanded due to the need for updated psychiatric treatment records and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient notice of a rating decision and for additional development regarding his bilateral knee, ankle disabilities, seizure disorder, and hernia.

The Veteran's gynecological disability is granted service connection. The Veteran does not have a diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, to include as due to military sexual trauma (MST), that was incurred in and due to her time in service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address the Veteran's psychiatric conditions, including PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to provide a VA examination for an acquired psychiatric condition, and the Veteran should be given another opportunity to appear for the requested examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. However, both claims were denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and schizophrenia, was reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for schizophrenia but not for PTSD. The claims for left and right ankle conditions are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for PTSD and an acquired mental disorder other than PTSD, including depression NOS due to insufficient evidence regarding the veracity of his claimed stressors. Further efforts are needed to confirm if there was a Naval collision in May 1973 that involved the Tugboat Oshkosh (YTB-757) and the submarine USS Bluefish.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus and an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) secondary to a service-connected disability (obstructive lung disease). The Veteran's preexisting pes planus was not aggravated by his active duty, and there is no evidence that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is related to his service-connected obstructive lung disease.

The Veteran's application to reopen claims for cervical spine disability, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, and psychiatric disorder (to include depression and anxiety) was granted. The claim for stomach cramps is denied. The effective date of service connection for psychiatric disorder (to include depression and anxiety) is remanded.

The Veteran's petition to reconsider the claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability is granted. The appeal is granted to this extent only, and other claims are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for GERD and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including issuance of statement of the case in some instances.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and a need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia. The examiner is requested to review all pertinent records associated with the claims file, including service treatment records, military personnel records, post-service medical records, and assertions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric disorder and degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, have been sufficiently disabling to render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of a definitive opinion and potential missing records. The Veteran is also required to provide authorization for VA to obtain relevant records from his incarceration.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claim for service connection is being remanded for an addendum opinion, while the TDIU claim will be deferred until the service connection issue is resolved.

The Board has dismissed the appellant's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus as he withdrew his appeals on these issues.,The petition to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted, but the specific diagnosis of PTSD or MDD must be determined through a VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions, including tinnitus, hypertension, Raynaud's phenomenon with complex regional pain syndrome, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood and major depressive disorder (psychiatric disability), and erectile dysfunction. The decision also remanded several issues related to left leg disability, sleep apnea, urinary incontinence, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches has been granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disability (including as due to an in-service head trauma) and residuals of frostbite on the left and/or right lower extremity have also been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a left ankle disability due to inadequate consideration of evidence and failure to provide adequate rationale in the previous VA opinions.