Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, but he had been receiving total disability based on individual unemployability for at least ten years prior to his death. Therefore, DIC benefits under Section 1318 are granted.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a low back disability, chest pain, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to potential issues with the examination provided.,The Veteran's claims for these conditions are currently under review.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and denied service connection for kidney stones, sinus condition, and urethritis. The case is remanded for further action on the remaining issues.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability may be related to his service-connected disabilities, but an addendum opinion is needed to address whether it is aggravated by those disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder. The issues of service connection for a low back disability, bilateral pes planus, and migraines are remanded. The Veteran's claim for medical care under 38 U.S.C. § 1702 is dismissed as moot.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and PTSD, but has granted a new and material evidence claim for his psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The appeal is remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for major depressive disorder and chronic rhinitis are granted. Service connection is denied for lumbar spine DDD, DA, and left hip disorder.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, but these claims are being remanded due to additional development needs.,For the heart disorder claim, the Board is seeking clarification on whether it clearly and unmistakably preexisted service. For the psychiatric disorder claim, VA will attempt to obtain missing records from Dr. J., and schedule a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for fatigue disorder, left upper extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as mental condition), and sleep apnea.,The Board also denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and the 10 percent disability evaluation assigned for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims for TMJ and TDIU are being remanded due to outstanding records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and a compensable rating for hemorrhoids. The Veteran was not granted service connection for her claimed psychiatric condition, as there is no evidence that she has a distinct diagnosis of major depressive disorder separate from her already service-connected PTSD. For her hemorrhoids, the Board found that the symptoms were mild or moderate and did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied because the VA examiner found no diagnosis of PTSD or any other mental disorder. The decision to remand is due to the need for additional evidence and a more definitive opinion from an examiner.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral knee, right eye, and left eye disabilities due to the Veteran's discharge under other than honorable conditions. The Board also remanded issues regarding a right shoulder disability, residuals of deviated septum, skin disability, and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD and depression).

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and found that the Veteran's current psychiatric condition is due to his assault during military service. The petition to reopen the claim for asthma was denied as new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to issue a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) addressing the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The SSOC must be issued by the RO.

The Veteran's cause of death was ruled a suicide due to a gunshot wound. There is no evidence linking any service-connected disability or undiagnosed psychiatric disorder to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran not reporting for a VA examination and because his SSI records need to be obtained. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is being reviewed again.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, finding that all reasonable doubt should be resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claims, particularly concerning his acquired psychiatric disability and service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia and denied service connection for other acquired psychiatric disorders. The TDIU claim is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.