Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence to adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran was not afforded a proper VA examination or medical opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records from a hospital in Gary, Indiana and the Minnesota Department of Corrections. The appellant is seeking service connection for paranoid schizophrenia.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disability, which is related to his acquired psychiatric disorder, needs further development and will be remanded.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disability, acquired psychiatric condition (including nervous condition and PTSD), hearing loss of the right ear, and lumbar spine disability. The evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's PTSD is related to his fear of hostile military and terrorist activities, as he reported during service. The left index finger disorder claim remains denied.

The Veteran's spine condition is granted as service connection, with the claim reopened due to new and material evidence.,Service connection for PTSD is granted, with the claim reopened due to new and material evidence. The Veteran’s representative provided additional information regarding his stressors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, finding no current diagnosis of a psychiatric disability and insufficient evidence linking any such condition to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and consideration of all relevant evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) and residuals of a traumatic brain injury, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims based on the lack of in-service stressors or injuries.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining STRs from his Navy Reserve service and private medical records. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot disability, back disability, and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), but has remanded her claim for traumatic brain injury/neurocognitive disability due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board granted a 50 percent evaluation for migraine headaches, effective from November 22, 2013. Service connection was not established for sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric condition, tinnitus, or heart murmur with history of myocardial infarctions.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches, but denied claims for acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and Somatic Symptom Disorder) and fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is granted service connection. Service connection for sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and depression) are remanded due to lack of evidence supporting the claims. Increased ratings for cervical, lumbar spine, left and right knee disabilities, and bilateral plantar fasciitis are also remanded.

The Veteran's hospitalization for psychiatric and substance abuse disorders is in excess of 21 days, but the Board cannot determine if his substance abuse disorders are due to or aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disorder without resorting to speculation.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are insufficient to adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran is therefore being remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include PTSD, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and lumbar spine disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's suicide was caused by a psychiatric disorder incurred in service, and thus service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically paranoid schizophrenia, preexisted service and was aggravated by service. The Veteran contends that his preexisting condition worsened during service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to conflicting findings from VA examinations, unclear functional loss estimates, and the need for additional development.