Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further verification of his National Guard service. The AOJ is instructed to obtain missing medical records, verify his periods of active duty, and consider possible undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained multi-symptom illness if confirmed.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine disability and schizophrenia due to incomplete service records, lack of compliance with previous remand directives, and need for further development including obtaining Army Reserve and National Guard records.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD). The issues of service connection for other conditions are remanded due to lack of complete VA treatment records.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is attributed to a personality disorder, not service.,Service connection for bruxism is denied as it is not related to an in-service event or disease and is secondary to his personality disorder.,The right wrist disability was not incurred during service and is unrelated to any in-service injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, which was not service-connected at the time of his death in July 1971, was the underlying cause of his suicide. The Board granted service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than June 22, 2012 for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied. The claim for an effective date earlier than June 22, 2012 for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is also denied. The claim for a higher evaluation than 100 percent for the acquired psychiatric disorder is denied as it is not possible to have a rating higher than 100 percent.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including a VA mental health evaluation to assess the Veteran's depression and headache disorder. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) and increased rating for headaches are also on appeal.

The Board has remanded the cases of hepatitis C, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder and PTSD), and diabetes mellitus due to potential service connection issues. Specifically, it is unclear if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents while serving aboard the U.S.S. Fresno in Vietnam waters.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an increased rating and TDIU due to incomplete medical records and need for updated examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, left ankle condition, bilateral knee condition, lower back condition, and headaches is denied as there are no new or material evidence to reopen the claims. The current rating for PTSD already covers her anxiety and depression symptoms.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for an initial compensable disability rating for TBI, service connection for headaches, and service connection for acquired psychiatric disability including major depressive disorder and PTSD. The Veteran needs a new examination to assess the current severity of his TBI and whether any headache or psychiatric disabilities are proximately caused by TBI.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination. The Veteran's conditions are presumed related to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his in-service experiences and granting the benefit of doubt.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for a rating in excess of 70 percent for his service-connected psychiatric disability, erectile dysfunction, and skin condition. The issues related to allergic rhinitis and pinched nerves were also denied.,A compensable rating for erectile dysfunction was not granted.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran did not meet the diagnostic criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and his current unspecified depressive disorder is not related to in-service events.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal because his March 2018 VA Form 9 was not timely filed, and thus the September 2015 rating decision is final.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, right shoulder capsulitis (frozen shoulder), and right shoulder capsulitis as secondary to service-connected back disability have been granted. The left shoulder capsulitis claim has been withdrawn.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but further development is needed to address its merits due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's military records and unverified stressors. The claims for Alzheimer’s dementia and neurosarcoidosis are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received. The right knee pain, left knee pain, acquired psychiatric disorder, and TBI claims are also being remanded for additional development.

The Board has dismissed the claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss. The remaining issues on appeal have been remanded.