Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a lack of VA examination, and requests additional development.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including those for service connection and rating determinations. The additional VA treatment records need to be considered in the readjudication process.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease has been granted, along with service connection for fibromyalgia, acquired psychiatric disability (mood disorder and unspecified depressive disorder), bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, irritable bowel syndrome, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity arthropathy, left lower extremity arthropathy, and chronic pain.,The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is remanded due to the grant of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, and occipital neuralgia. The Veteran's claims were not supported by competent medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions. The issues of residuals of a head/eye injury, gastritis with history of peptic ulcer, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are being reviewed.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted. Service connection for a right knee disorder and left knee disorder, both secondary to service-connected bilateral hammertoe, is denied. Service connection for a low back disorder, also secondary to service-connected bilateral hammertoe, is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a neuropsychiatric disorder other than depressive disorder and a chronic disability manifested by respiratory symptoms due to an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained multisymptom illness have been denied as the evidence does not support these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and inner elbow/muscle/bicep pain/weakness/numbness are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the cases of right knee injury, pilonidal cysts, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The Veteran's claims are now pending again.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, including panic disorder with agoraphobia, warrants an effective date of June 3, 2012 for a 70% evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic heart disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence of such conditions during or related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder due to additional evidence being needed, including medical articles and lay statements.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis B, a mental disorder, and tinnitus. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of any condition during or near the pendency of the claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete scheduling of VA examinations and lack of communication with the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further development. The issues include psychiatric disorder, Fuch’s corneal dystrophy with steroid responder (claimed as vision disorder), hypertension, and hypothyroidism.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The issues of service connection for right ear hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) were returned to the Board, but as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal, the Board does not have jurisdiction to proceed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressor and service connection history for PTSD. The AOJ must attempt to verify these details and conduct a new VA examination if necessary.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and increased rating for pulmonary tuberculosis were denied. The claim for increased rating for pulmonary tuberculosis was granted with a disability rating of 10% from March 4, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 30 percent or more for his service-connected other recurrent depressive disorder is being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including a VA examination for heart disorder and issuance of a statement of the case on psychiatric disorder.