Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, specifically whether they are related to service or pre-existed service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and chronic fatigue syndrome due to inadequate examinations. A new examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's depression is related to or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, schizophrenia, and alcohol dependence and polysubstance abuse are remanded due to the need for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claim for a heart condition as due to exposure to herbicides has not been reopened.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been dismissed as the issues are moot due to the grant of service connection in a September 2019 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. Service connection is established for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder and PTSD), a right ankle disability, and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of a right knee disability is granted. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been submitted, reopening the claim. Service connection for a left knee disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information about the in-service stressors. The Veteran's service records from July 1971 to April 1973 need to be obtained, and he is asked to provide more details about his claimed stressors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD has been reopened and is granted. The appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, to include depressive disorder, is remanded.

The claim to reopen a previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) based on military sexual trauma (MST) and/or major depressive disorder is granted. The issue of service connection for PTSD based on MST and/or major depressive disorder is remanded due to conflicting medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and right clavicle fracture residuals, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's diagnoses of schizophrenia and major depressive disorder are considered, along with his reported history of a panic attack in boot camp. A VA addendum opinion is needed regarding whether these conditions are at least as likely as not related to the Veteran’s credibly reported episode of a panic attack during training.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical evidence regarding the Veteran's diagnosis of PTSD and insufficient information to make a decision on the appeal for the claimed disability. The Veteran needs to be scheduled for a VA examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Board has granted new and material evidence for service connection claims related to stomach problems, IBS, and a gastrointestinal disorder. However, the claims for throat disability and low back disability remain denied due to lack of chronicity or etiology. The psychiatric claim remains pending as there is no established diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for a headache disorder, residuals of a head injury, sleep apnea, and psychiatric disorder. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, sleep disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the Veteran failing to appear for scheduled VA examinations. He is given another opportunity to attend these exams.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is granted. The claims for service connection for osteoporosis and head injury residuals are remanded.

The Board has denied an earlier effective date for the 30 percent rating for left total knee replacement. The Veteran's claims for service connection of back disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, right hip disorder, and left hip disorder are remanded.