Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for various disabilities due to outstanding records and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran will need to provide additional treatment records, including those from private providers. He will also be provided with new examinations related to his psychiatric disorder, hypertension, lung disability, left shoulder, back, knee, and ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.,The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for his knee conditions, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, lumbar spine disorder, thoracic spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, neurological deficits, carpal tunnel syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for the thoracolumbar spine disability is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service. The VA examiner needs to provide a clear opinion on whether the condition preexisted service and was not aggravated by service, or if it is at least as likely as not related to service.

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

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for increased ratings of his psychiatric disability, and the Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Board has remanded the case due to duty-to-assist errors and a need for further examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen for service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, back disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression), dermatophytosis of the left foot, and dermatophytosis of the right foot.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric condition related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with the duty to assist and substantial compliance, as well as needing a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia contributed to his death in a motor vehicle accident.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence, including missing VA and private treatment records.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits due to his service-connected psychiatric disability. The Board has remanded both issues for further action.

The Veteran's initial 70 percent rating for a psychiatric disorder is granted. The Board also remanded several issues on appeal, including service connection claims for various disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted. The claims for renal cell carcinoma, an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), and a right ankle disability are being remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his incarceration at Fort Le, Kansas. The AOJ should arrange for a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder, TBI residuals, and right shoulder disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD, due to a lack of evidence linking his current symptoms to his military service.

The claim to service connection for a low back disability is reopened and remanded. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as his psychiatric condition does not severely impair his ability to work in a work environment that requires frequent interactions with others. His peripheral neuropathy is not found to interfere with his employability, and his diabetes mellitus type 2 does not prevent him from obtaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The remaining issues of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for residuals of fracture of the right fourth and fifth fingers, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and as secondary to TBI), and service connection for traumatic brain injury are remanded due to procedural reasons.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a right hip replacement, joint pain condition, and lumbar spine condition have been withdrawn.,Service connection for a respiratory condition (asthma) due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune has been denied. The evidence is insufficient to establish a nexus between the current diagnosis of asthma and her period of service.