Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. Service connection was denied for heart disease and diabetes mellitus as there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted but with an effective date based on a request to reopen, rather than the original claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's achievement of his desired vocational goal of work requiring an M.S.W. is not reasonably feasible due to his service-connected and nonservice-connected disabilities, which prevent him from successfully pursuing a career in social work.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple service connection claims for various conditions, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, liver disease, hepatitis C, skin cancer, neuropathy, residuals of shrapnel wounds to the back, buttocks, and legs, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and a lumbar spine disability. The appeal is currently remanded for further development.,The Veteran's appendectomy scar was rated as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 7804 due to pain but not instability.

The Veteran's claims of increased ratings and effective dates for service-connected conditions have been denied. The claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities has also been denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and treatment records. The issues include right knee, left knee, rash of the entire body, ingrown toenails, indigestion, bilateral pes planus, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression), pseudofolliculitis barbae, and right shoulder disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and headaches as the evidence did not establish a nexus to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical degenerative joint disease but remanded the issue of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate opinions and missing informed consent records. The issues include compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than depressive disorder (PTSD, unspecified anxiety disorder), a rating in excess of 30 percent for dyschezia with abnormal anal sphincter relaxation, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, and hyperhidrosis. The issues are still pending as they relate to service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional examination and analysis regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, preexisted service or was aggravated by service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, excluding PTSD, as there is no current diagnosis of bipolar disorder or chronic depression. The preponderance of evidence does not support these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded his claims for acquired psychiatric disability and skin disability due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's forehead scar is granted service connection. The issues of service connection for head injuries and cervical spine disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate compliance with previous remands and the need for another VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim due to duty-to-assist errors, including failure to consider in-service stressors and VA examination.

Your appeals for service connection have been dismissed as you withdrew your appeal before a decision was made.

The Veteran's claims for macular degeneration, left eye; schizophrenia; and PTSD have been dismissed. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the failure to obtain relevant VA records.

The Board has determined that the original claim of entitlement to service connection for schizophrenia should be remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. A VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's schizophrenia or other acquired psychiatric disorder was caused by an in-service head injury.

The Veteran is not competent to handle disbursement of VA funds due to his mental incapacity caused by schizophrenia.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records from the Social Security Administration (SSA). The Veteran was not provided with all necessary information about his SSA disability benefits and decisions.