Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for his schizophrenia with substance abuse and for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his employment status during the period on appeal.

The Board denied the claim for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation based on permanent incapacity for self-support prior to the age of 18 due to a mental disorder, intellectual functioning deficiencies, and asthma. The evidence did not show that these conditions rendered the appellant permanently incapable of self-support at the time he turned 18.

Your claims for service connection have been remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The outcome of these claims may affect your SMC claim, so both are being reviewed together.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability and headaches were denied service connection. The left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain and right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain ratings were granted, but the left knee flexion limitation and instability were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The Board found that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to his failure to report for VA examinations and the need for updated treatment records. The claims will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Board denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD and depression, residuals of throat cancer, heart disability, respiratory disability, and diabetes mellitus type II. The Veteran's claims were not supported by medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been granted, with tinnitus presumed to have been incurred in service and the other conditions having their service connections established on a presumptive basis.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to decide the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, a back disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depressive disorder, schizophrenia, manic depression, and organic brain syndrome, has been reopened. The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, left leg disorder, and psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) have been granted. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a right foot fracture has also been granted.,However, the Board found that there is no reasonable possibility that further assistance would substantiate the claims as they are not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating and service connection are remanded due to incomplete development, including the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for unspecified depressive disorder were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric condition related to service, and that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, finding that it did not preexist his active military service and was not incurred during service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and rating for various conditions, including chest pain, sleep apnea, bilateral knee disorder, upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, right shoulder disorder, acne, facial scars, flatfoot, hypertension, memory loss, bipolar disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including panic disorder with agoraphobia and depressive disorder), and migraines. The remand requires obtaining relevant VA treatment records, conducting additional examinations to determine the etiology of diagnosed conditions, and scheduling a new examination for migraines.

Service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,Service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and a psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression and anxiety) have not been established.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and GERD were denied service connection as they are not related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and psoriasis. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence of a current disability that began during or was related to his military service.,Service connection for PTSD could not be established due to lack of verified stressors, while the diagnoses of anxiety and depressive disorders did not meet the criteria for PTSD under DSM-5.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, other than PTSD, and a left shoulder disorder due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for ischemic heart disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and other conditions due to exposure to herbicide agents. The claim for embolism and thrombosis is denied.