Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for schizophrenia and a TDIU due to procedural flaws in the AOJ's handling of his appeals. The AOJ must first resolve his claim seeking service connection for Major Depressive Disorder before readjudicating his other issues.

Service connection is granted for hypertension, renal insufficiency, back disorder, neck disorder, sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disorder. Headaches, Bell's palsy, and a disability manifested by dizzy spells are remanded due to lack of medical nexus opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a right knee disability, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and PTSD, is denied as there is no credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor.,The Veteran's skin disability (tinea versicolor) is denied because the current condition does not have its onset during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, specifically PTSD. The examiner was asked to determine if the in-service bad jump incident contributed to the Veteran’s current condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature of the Veteran's psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, as well as whether any preexisting condition was aggravated by service or if it is related to the service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, neck disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, MDD, adjustment disorder, and borderline personality disorder) due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period prior to January 22, 2018 is remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding his ability to work. The Board finds a need for further medical opinions on the impact of service-connected disabilities and the service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder on employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and obtaining medical records. The Veteran's claim will be adjudicated on its merits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability is reopened, and his right shoulder disability is granted as secondary to his left shoulder disability. The case is remanded due to the need to obtain updated treatment records and provide an addendum opinion regarding the psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, results in mild or transient symptoms that decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of occasional stress. The Board finds the severity, frequency, and duration of his symptoms more closely approximate a 10 percent rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a kidney disability, back disability, bilateral CTS, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence of current disabilities. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right foot pes planus, and left foot pes planus due to insufficient examination reports and missing records.

The Board has remanded the claims for a deviated septum and right wrist condition due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the Veteran's lay assertions. The dental claim is denied.

The Board is remanding the case for AOJ review of additional evidence received after the December 2017 Statement of the Case.

The Board denied the Veteran's applications to reopen several service connection claims, including for right foot disability, left foot disability, face discoloration, psychiatric disorder, hypertension, left knee disability, right knee disability, and kidney disease. The evidence submitted did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent, but no higher. The initial rating for service-connected lumbar strain has been granted at 40 percent from April 24, 2019.,Service connection was denied for erectile dysfunction, hiatal hernia/GERD, headaches, PTSD, joint problems, fatigue/shortness of breath, and TDIU.

The Board has added new medical evidence to the record and has decided that some of the Veteran's claims for service connection need to be reconsidered. The issues have been remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, a spine condition, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD), and restoration of his 60% disability rating for hyperparathyroidism due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in the VA examination regarding the relationship between the Veteran's brother's death during service and his current psychiatric disorders. The claim is being reopened on new evidence, but further clarification is needed.