Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, finding that his August 1968 motor vehicle accident was caused by his own willful misconduct and therefore not related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his right nephrectomy, as well as his claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a sleep disorder. The issues have been recharacterized to include a left kidney condition.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is rated at 70 percent prior to September 1, 2017 and TDIU is granted from September 12, 2016.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for sleep apnea, but has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension. The TDIU issue is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for psychiatric disability, hypertension, transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), and cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa due to insufficient efforts by VA in obtaining relevant records from the Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show an exceptional pattern of hearing impairment.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder, PTSD, was denied due to the lack of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and various depressive disorders. The decision is based on credible statements from the Veteran about in-service events and a positive medical opinion linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disability. The claim for service connection for a low back disability remains denied.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disorder, major depressive disorder, right wrist disorder, and lichen planus are granted service connection. The remaining issues of service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder, neck disorder, low back disorder, and bilateral knee disorder are remanded due to the passage of time since the last VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a finger condition, back condition, bilateral shoulder condition, bilateral ear condition (to include hearing loss and recurrent infections), and acquired psychiatric disorder (unspecified-schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder) due to outstanding VA treatment records and need for further medical examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia. The issue of entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing records and need for further examination. The Veteran is not seeking service connection based on a presumption of exposure, but rather on direct evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has denied service connection for a right-hand disability and is now remanding the case to consider whether direct service connection can be established for any acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and substance-related disorders. The Veteran's current diagnoses of personality disorder, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorders are not service-connected due to their nature as congenital defects.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine his eligibility for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to service-connected disabilities.

VA has received new and material evidence to reopen claims for service connection for hypertension, Hepatitis C, PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (unspecified depressive disorder and delusional disorder), glaucoma, pancreatic disorder, and diverticulitis. Service connection is granted for the latter four conditions.,VA has denied service connection for hypertension, glaucoma, and pancreatic disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to complexity of military and medical history, including PTSD and depression. The cause of death is being considered for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and incomplete medical records.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, finding that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and there is no link between his depression and in-service confinement.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology and severity of the Veteran's left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and acquired psychiatric disability. The right knee disability rating issue is also being remanded.