Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The petition to reopen the claims for left ankle disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) is granted. The appeal is allowed to that extent only.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as there is no credible and verifiable in-service stressor.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric condition is granted a rating of 70 percent, effective from February 28, 2011. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and depression was reopened, but the claim remains denied as there is no credible supporting evidence that an in-service stressor occurred.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations and need for additional evidence. The issues include PTSD, hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of determining a current psychiatric disability and its etiology due to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric condition and TDIU due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for additional information.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include polysubstance induced mood disorder, was denied because he failed to appear for a scheduled VA examination.

The petition to reopen the PTSD claim is granted, and a 40% rating for diabetes mellitus is granted. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim remains pending as it was reopened with new evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disability and acquired psychiatric disorder due to a lack of medical opinion regarding their relationship to service. The Veteran testified that his back injury occurred during a violent storm while aboard ship, but no VA examiner has provided an opinion on this issue.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disability was reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder), but denied for left knee, low back, cervical spine, and right shoulder disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development and readjudication due to failure to obtain in-service treatment records, inadequate consideration of submitted evidence, and need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination report and a need for more detailed rationale regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is reopened. The case is remanded due to the need for a new medical opinion regarding direct and secondary service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding insufficient evidence of a current disability and concluding that there is no nexus between any diagnosed condition and military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss. The remaining issues of service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence and need further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his active duty service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus is denied. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD is remanded due to lack of evidence to verify in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disorders and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete development, including a lack of VA medical records and service treatment records. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these records and provide clarifying opinions from VA examiners regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have mesothelioma, flat feet, depression or any other mental disorder, or hypertension at any time during or after service. The claim for migraine headaches is remanded as it involves a complex medical matter.