Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not establish a link between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to unclear etiology and need for additional examination. The issues include migraine headaches, basal cell carcinoma, irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's schizophrenia is rated at a 70 percent disability rating for the period prior to July 24, 2019. The decision also granted TDIU for this same period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo, to include secondary to tinnitus, hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The appeal was also remanded for additional examinations related to total disability rating based on individual unemployability and special monthly compensation due to need for aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU due to inadequate examination in the previous remand. The Veteran's claim will be further developed with a new VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and psychiatric disability, including PTSD, were granted service connection as they are related to their military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,His bilateral hearing loss disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and the reopening of a tinnitus claim. The tobacco use disorder claim is denied as there is no evidence it is related to active service other than in-service cigarette smoking.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened, and it is now granted. Other claims were denied or remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and notification issues. The case will be returned for further action, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed residuals of pneumothorax. The claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, specifically his claims for service connection. A new VA examination is needed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a diagnosis of depressive disorder and supporting its relationship to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and whether it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied as his service-connected conditions did not render him unemployable prior to December 15, 2016.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection of acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran did not submit a formal or informal claim prior to February 9, 2016 and there was no clear and unmistakable error in the September 1983 rating decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, adjustment disorder with depression), right knee disability, and left knee disability. The evidence did not support the presence of current disabilities or establish a link between any diagnosed conditions and service.,The Board found that there was no in-service injury or disease related to the Veteran's lumbar spine or psychiatric disorders, and the diagnoses were not linked to service. For his right and left knee disabilities, the Board noted the absence of evidence showing onset during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete examinations and a need for further development, including obtaining records from a non-VA provider and soliciting evidence of military sexual trauma.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a low back disability, and sleep apnea. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches and unspecified schizophrenia disorder/other psychotic disorder rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation as of June 21, 2000. His TDIU claim is granted with an effective date of that date.