Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, increased ratings for stress reactions of the left and right lower extremities with knee impairment, and obtaining VA treatment records and examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for her psychiatric condition and service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was granted. The Veteran now has a 70 percent disability rating for her major depressive disorder with anxious distress, effective from March 23, 2017. She also received service connection for left and right carpal tunnel syndromes.

The Board has determined that new evidence received since the January 2015 denial supports readjudicating the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability. The Veteran's current psychiatric disability is found to be related to her military service, and she is granted service connection.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other conditions, due to the lack of evidence establishing a diagnosis or link between these disorders and service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a rating of 50 percent for his psychiatric disorder prior to June 11, 2014 was granted. The appeal is denied for any rating in excess of 30 percent since June 11, 2014.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of a claimed stressor and for an updated VA psychiatric medical opinion.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is found to be related to service, and service connection is granted.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as sleep trouble and depression) is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disability (to include depression and PTSD) have all been granted.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for updated treatment records and a VA examination applying DSM-V criteria.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of psychiatric disability, erectile dysfunction, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine as they have been fully granted by a prior rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of notification for a VA examination regarding the etiology of schizophrenia. The Veteran's claims file must be reviewed and an examination conducted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, to include dysthymia and depressive disorder, is proximately due to his service-connected patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee status post arthroscopy. The Board finds that the criteria for service connection are met.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened and granted. The Board finds the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether his acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is etiologically related to his active service. Other claims are remanded for further development.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, particularly in relation to exposure to Agent Orange during military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that there was no verified in-service stressor and insufficient evidence to establish a link between current symptoms and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is related to service, and granted service connection. The claims for PTSD and low back disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus has been reopened. Service connection is granted for the acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD). Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied. The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for chronic lumbosacral strain of L4-L5 (low back disability) is granted. Service connection for low back disability is remanded.