Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Board has found that additional development is needed before the claims can be adjudicated on the merits. The RO must attempt to obtain VA treatment records from Overton Brooks VA Medical Center and private medical providers, including Dr. M. Dhawan in Shreveport, Louisiana.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records, specifically missing VA medical records from 1978 to the present. The appellant's psychiatric disorder claim is being reopened.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, bilateral hip disability, and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to her service-connected knee disabilities or any other service events. The Board also found insufficient evidence of an in-service personal assault leading to PTSD.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for a sleep disorder, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, and an effective date earlier than September 18, 2017, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for skeletal arthritis of the entire body, left foot disability, right foot disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to inadequate medical opinions addressing whether these conditions were caused or aggravated by service. The other issues remain denied.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability is rated at 70 percent for the entire appeal period, and he is granted TDIU due to his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and depression due to insufficient medical opinions. The case of service connection for a skin condition (chloracne, rash, allergic/contact dermatitis) is reopened.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is rated at 70 percent for the period prior to October 30, 2019.,An earlier effective date of November 3, 2015, for the grant of a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and/or panic disorder).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral shin splints and bilateral knee disability have also been reopened and granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied. The rating for right finger disorder was granted at 10 percent from July 27, 2005 to April 30, 2012 and at a higher level of disability (in excess of 20%) thereafter.

The claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder is reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate compliance with prior remand directives and failure of the Veteran to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence for a PTSD diagnosis and incomplete stressor verification. The Veteran's claim will be further developed with additional medical records and stressor verification.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left knee disability, right knee disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and erectile dysfunction due to new evidence received since previous denials. The claims are further addressed in the REMAND section.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and right leg circulation problems were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.,Claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, high blood pressure/hypertension, and heart attack/CAD were not reopened as there was no new and material evidence received.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The issues include low back, left hip, and left knee disorders as well as a TBI and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to new evidence received since previous decisions. The Veteran's current conditions are being evaluated further.

The Board denied service connection for left hip disability, right hip disability (secondary to left hip), pelvic girdle muscle weakness (secondary to left hip), low back disability (secondary to left hip), left knee disability (secondary to left hip), and acquired psychiatric disorder (secondary to left hip).,All claims were denied as the Veteran's preexisting left hip disability did not undergo an increase in severity beyond natural progression by an injury sustained during a period of active service.