Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate consideration of a verified in-service stressor and the need for additional development regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's COPD and bladder cancer are not related to service, as there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The Board finds that the Veteran has not provided sufficient medical evidence to support a direct relationship between his current disabilities and service.,PTSD was granted based on the Veteran's reported stressors in Vietnam, with the VA psychiatrist confirming the diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional records and a comprehensive examination, including consideration of recent VA and private treatment records since May 2012.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for hepatitis C, an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to outstanding VA treatment records and potential private treatment records. A VA examination is also required for these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected back and psychiatric conditions, along with other disabilities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for HIV and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and a depressive disorder NOS with features of PTSD, has been reopened and granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for eczema, a chronic low back disorder, and a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder have been reopened. The claim for service connection for a chronic gastrointestinal disorder is still pending.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The stomach condition (irritable colon syndrome) claim was withdrawn, and the traumatic brain injury and acquired psychiatric disorder (bipolar disorder) claims were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD because the stressor event claimed by the Veteran could not be corroborated, and there was no diagnosis of PTSD that satisfied DSM criteria.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including patellofemoral syndrome with osteoarthritis and lateral instability, is rated at 40%.,The Veteran also received a separate rating of 10% for limitation of flexion from October 27, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now pending. The issues of entitlement to service connection for degenerative disc disease, spinal spondylitis, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) remain on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and a left eye disability due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations. The case will be returned to the Board for further action.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder, is granted as service-connected.,An increased initial rating of 10 percent for hypertension is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder prevents her from securing and maintaining gainful employment, granting her TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication due to issues related to right ear hearing loss and its secondary effects on the Veteran's psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been withdrawn and are dismissed. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened, but not granted.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD due to the lack of a current diagnosis. The case is remanded for further development and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder.

The Veteran's schizophrenia, undifferentiated type, was rated at 70 percent and denied a higher rating. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet criteria for total social impairment or total occupational impairment.

The Veteran's left ankle sprain and tinnitus have been granted service connection. However, the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.