Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again with a new examination and additional information.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and a rating in excess of 40 percent for low back disability due to the Veteran's failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without providing good cause.,The Veteran was not provided with adequate notice or opportunity to provide evidence or request rescheduling of the VA examinations. As such, the claims were denied as a matter of law.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, increased evaluations for his left and right knee disabilities, and will consider new evidence to reopen these claims.

The Board has remanded the appellant's appeal for further development regarding her claim to be recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse for VA death pension benefits, and for service connection claims. The underlying issues are inextricably intertwined with this recognition.

The application to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is granted. The appeal is granted to this extent only, and the right foot disability claim is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development and examination, including consideration of the Veteran's MST claim and potential service connection for his diagnosed mental disorders.

The Veteran's service connection claims for polysubstance abuse and right ear hearing loss have been dismissed or denied, respectively. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for psychiatric disability (including major depression with psychotic features and PTSD), low back disability, and bilateral shoulder disability.

The Board has granted an effective date of March 29, 1991 for the award of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is remanded to determine if a TDIU should have an earlier effective date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus and related secondary conditions due to insufficient evidence regarding herbicide exposure during service. The claims are inextricably intertwined with the primary issue of service connection.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the skin disorder claim due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The remaining claims for respiratory disorders, sleep apnea, headache disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, and gout are remanded for further development.

The appeal regarding bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is granted with a rating of 30 percent, but no higher for scars status post injury to left axilla and left biceps.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a left knee disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include posttraumatic stress disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran is granted a rating of 70 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder (social phobia and PTSD) from May 29, 2013 to February 4, 2017.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for the same condition was denied as of February 4, 2017.,TDIU is granted from May 29, 2013 to May 21, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for vertigo, headache disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate VA medical examination reports. New VA opinions are needed to adjudicate these claims.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is not service-connected. The TBI residuals are rated at 40 percent, which is the highest rating available under VA guidelines. The Veteran has been granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, on a direct incurrence basis is denied. The claim for major depressive disorder as secondary to service-connected lumbosacral strain is granted with staged initial ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and TDIU remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives, and now finds that a TDIU should be considered on an extraschedular basis for the portion of the rating period prior to December 2017.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, and the Board is remanding several issues including those related to PTSD, acquired psychiatric disorder, dizziness, low back condition, right and left foot conditions, and a right ankle condition. The Veteran must be scheduled for VA examinations to evaluate these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and psychiatric disability (including PTSD).

The Board denied service connection for cold injury residuals of the bilateral feet and an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as parasomnia, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.