Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various psychiatric and musculoskeletal conditions were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD due to military sexual trauma, and thus could not establish service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that there is clear and unmistakable evidence that his pre-existing psychiatric disorder did not worsen during service. The Board also found no secondary service connection due to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the cases due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives and the need for additional medical opinions.

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

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, including as secondary to a service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI), due to insufficient evidence in the record and the need for further development.

The Veteran's appeal of the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for right wrist fracture residuals is dismissed. The Board has remanded issues related to PTSD, acquired mental disorder other than PTSD, PTD, and bilateral pes planus.

Service connection granted for psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) and gastrointestinal disorders. The Veteran's claims are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal as to all issues except for the acquired psychiatric disorder, which was remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an initial 50 percent rating for migraines is granted. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability remains pending as the Veteran has not been notified of the grant of this condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, type 2 diabetes mellitus, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, sleep disorder (obstructive sleep apnea), acquired psychiatric disorders (PTSD, anxiety disorder, depressive disorder), right knee degenerative joint disease, left knee degenerative joint disease, right hip degenerative joint disease, left hip degenerative joint disease, right foot degenerative joint disease, and hypertension.,The Board found no evidence of in-service noise exposure for hearing loss or Agent Orange exposure for diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's service records did not document Vietnam service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to issues with the duty to assist and because of the inextricability between the psychiatric disability claim and the coronary artery disease claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a low back condition, and bilateral knee conditions. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, a respiratory disorder (including COPD), and a psychiatric disability manifested by occasional nightmares are denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee condition, low back condition, and right eye condition are remanded for further development.

Service connection has been granted for a right shoulder disability, low back disability, neck disability, and psychiatric disability (depressive disorder).,The effective date of the service connection is November 15, 2016.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety. The case is remanded to determine the etiology of any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as depressive disorder, is granted due to its increase in severity being proximately due to his service-connected disabilities. His tinnitus and basal cell carcinoma are not related to service or any incident therein. The voiding dysfunction, DM2 with hypertension and erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities and lower extremities, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma have been found to aggravate his depressive disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck condition, but remanded the issues of service connection for headaches and an acquired psychiatric condition.,Service connection is also being remanded for the Veteran's low back condition (claimed as thoracic kyphoscoliosis).

The Board has determined that the effective dates for several benefits related to PTSD and other psychiatric conditions need to be reconsidered due to procedural issues. The Veteran's claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of a low back disorder, lump on right wrist, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression) due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to comply with prior remand directives and the Veteran's inability to receive a VA examination. The examiner is requested to determine if any of the claimed psychiatric disorders are related to military service.