Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are being remanded due to the receipt of new evidence.,The Veteran is also being scheduled for various VA examinations related to his disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, coronary artery disease and hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a lack of medical evidence on record regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, and migraines, as well as his claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease (CAD). The claims are being returned to the RO/AMC for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, chronic back pain, and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for agoraphobia due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or VA treatment.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, which is service-connected on a direct basis, has been granted a 100 percent disability rating due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss cannot be granted as he does not have a current disability meeting VA criteria. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and back disability are remanded due to lack of recent medical evidence, and the alcoholism secondary claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD and depressive disorders, and ischemic heart disease due to herbicide agent exposure. The claims are being remanded for additional development and medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues, including service connection for various conditions and rating determinations for his hearing loss, back disorder, knee disorders, and psychiatric condition. The claims are currently in remanded status due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and other psychiatric disorders, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the April 2007 rating decision. The decision was based on the correct legal standard at that time and supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal. The Board has also determined that additional examinations are needed for several issues, including left shoulder strain, right elbow bursitis, cervical strain, thoracolumbar strain and scoliosis, right extensor carpi ulnaris subluxation, left extensor carpi ulnaris subluxation, lipoma on the abdomen, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, left elbow disability, right hand disability, hearing loss, psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, and jaw disability.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to October 31, 2017 for the grant of service connection for schizophrenia and alcohol/cannabis use disorder was denied. The Board found that there is no legal basis by which an earlier effective date can be assigned.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD is granted, and the case is remanded for a VA examination to determine the current level of severity of his cervical spine disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the appellant's diagnosed schizophrenia is related to his period of service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of consideration of 38 U.S.C. § 1153 regarding whether the Veteran had pre-existing psychiatric disabilities in childhood that worsened during military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating prior to July 21, 2016 and in excess of 10 percent thereafter for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is remanded for further examination and opinion. TDIU is also remanded as it may be related to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and lumbar spine disability are granted as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disability. The earlier effective date claim for the bilateral knees is dismissed due to lack of legal entitlement.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has not yet determined whether they are granted. The right ankle disability claim is remanded for further development and examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a neuropsychiatric condition and depressive disorder have been reopened, and the claim is now granted. The bilateral hand disability and TDIU claims are still pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, traumatic brain injury, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a lack of sufficient medical evidence to determine their etiology. The Veteran reported injuries in service that may have contributed to these conditions.