Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for migraine headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as mental health condition), skin condition, and hypothyroidism. The preponderance of evidence is against finding that any of these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, acquired psychiatric disability (major depression disorder), and fibromyalgia have been granted. The claim for service connection for arthritis has been denied.,The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left knee condition and thoracolumbar spine disability (claimed as back condition).

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if there is a link between the Veteran's current disabilities and his service.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear and left ear hearing loss due to lack of current disability. The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and adjustment disorder, is remanded as there are issues regarding the in-service stressor and the need for a formal opinion with rationale.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to assess the Veteran's claimed Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Depression, as there is evidence suggesting these conditions may be related to service. The current medical records do not provide sufficient information for a decision.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of hand tremors is granted. The claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for congenital cataracts has been denied as the evidence does not show that his condition was aggravated by active duty service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD and an anxiety disorder) have been remanded due to insufficient examination findings. The examiner must consider all psychiatric diagnoses during the appeal period and provide a rationale for their opinion.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder condition has been remanded as the VA examination was inadequate. An addendum is required, considering whether the condition is directly related to active duty service or aggravated by his service-connected right shoulder condition or degenerative disc disease.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a heart disability, and hypertension due to the need for additional development including examinations.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including tinnitus, alcohol abuse, traumatic brain injury, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, right hip condition, left hip osteoarthritis, right sciatica, left sciatica, bilateral leg disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The decision also denied a request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder) as secondary to service-connected disabilities, and for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and lumbar spine disability have been reopened due to new and material evidence, but the applications remain denied. Service connection is granted for these conditions. The Veteran's coronary artery disease remains rated at 60% and hypertension at 10%. These ratings are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting a psychiatric examination.

The Board has dismissed the claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).,The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, skin cancer, an eye disability, PTSD, and hypertension are remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is also remanded as it involves a mental health condition that may be related to his claimed skin disability.,The Board has not addressed the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right eye disability due to 38 U.S.C. § 1151, which was referred to the AOJ.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is denied as the earliest allowable effective date is January 21, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic lymphocyte leukemia disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as post-traumatic stress disorder, adjustment disorder, and depression). The claim for the psychiatric disorder was reopened due to new evidence of in-service stressors. However, the Board found no current diagnosis of a psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding in-service stressor events and a need for additional examination.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease. The claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric history, a skin disorder, a prostate disorder, and a lumbar spine disorder are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as OSTSRD, is granted service connection. The initial compensable rating for malaria and the increased rating for CAD are both granted.

The Veteran's appeal for increased initial ratings for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability and entitlement to a TDIU prior to May 28, 2019 is remanded due to the need to obtain relevant medical records from the Department of Corrections and private health care providers.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete service records and the need for further medical examinations. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a back disorder, a bilateral foot disorder, a right inguinal hernia, diverticulitis, and hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations on tinea pedis and post-surgical scarring have been dismissed as the appellant has withdrawn his appeals.,The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations on bilateral hallux valgus to include on an extraschedular basis have been remanded due to possible worsening of symptoms since the last VA examination in April 2012.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for headaches, including as secondary to service-connected tinnitus, has been remanded. The examiner is asked to determine if the Veteran’s headaches are related to his service-connected tinnitus and whether they have been aggravated by it.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression) has been remanded. The examiner is asked to determine if the Veteran experienced military sexual trauma during service and if he currently suffers from PTSD or any other psychiatric disability as a result of that stressor.,The Veteran's appeal for TDIU has been remanded due to possible worsening of symptoms since the last VA examination in April 2012.