Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn for certain issues, but his claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) has been reopened and granted. His TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a right knee disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including rescheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to failure to schedule VA examinations and unclear intent regarding withdrawal of appeal. The Veteran is advised to appear for scheduled examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right eye retinal hole with pain and loss of vision to the extent of blindness, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and unspecified anxiety disorder) as they are not related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and will request a new examination for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information to decide on the appeal regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing schizophrenia was aggravated by active service.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder and shin splints, as the AOJ has not adjudicated this issue in a RAMP or AMA rating decision or a SOC/SSOC issued after February 19, 2019.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset and etiology of any psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder and schizophrenia. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's hemorrhoids are granted as secondary to service-connected IBS, but other issues remain pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a rib condition is reopened, while his claims for PTSD and other disabilities are denied. His TDIU claim has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of his acquired psychiatric disability was denied. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea, which had previously been denied, was reopened based on new evidence linking the condition to his service-connected disabilities. A rating of 70 percent for a psychiatric disability prior to April 20, 2016, and greater than 70 percent from that date, is granted.

The Board denied service connection for heart disorders, diabetes mellitus type II, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of veteran status prior to March 6, 1970.

The Veteran withdrew his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and the Board has dismissed this issue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders (including PTSD, major depressive disorder with symptoms of anxiety and insomnia, bipolar disorder, ADHD), back disorders (including arthritis), left knee disorders (including arthritis), right knee disorders (including arthritis), migraines, and tinnitus have all been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5271 for marked limitation of motion. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any other claimed conditions.,Service connection has been granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks, and alcohol use disorder), sleep apnea, low back disorder, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, left knee disorder, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. Service connection was denied for the remaining conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and headaches are granted as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The right foot pes planus is denied for an earlier effective date, but a rating of 20 percent is granted from June 18, 2014.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and evaluation, including Parkinson's Disease, TBI residuals, skin disability, hypertension, OSA, an acquired psychiatric disorder, vertigo, and TDIU. The Veteran’s claims are inextricably intertwined with the issue of service connection for Parkinson's Disease.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a seizure disorder, and a bilateral hip disorder due to new and material evidence. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board will now address the merits of the claim.

The Board denied service connection for both the Veteran's eye disability and his acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Board found that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and military service.