Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically whether it is related to service and pre-existed service. The VA must obtain additional evidence and provide a new opinion on these issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's active service from November 1986 to July 1987 is not a bar to benefits. The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and preparing an addendum opinion by another examiner.

The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for schizophrenia is granted. The appeal is granted to this extent only, with the denial of service connection for anxiety and depression.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and his nose injury residuals are unrelated to service.,The preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran's COPD is not related to service.,The preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran’s cervical spine (neck) disability is not related to service.,The preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran’s lumbar spine (low back) disability is not related to service.,The preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran’s rheumatoid arthritis is not related to service.,The preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of acute febrile illness, and his left lower extremity scarring due to MRSA infection is not related to service.,The preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran’s sleep disability (OSA and chronic insomnia) is subsumed under his service-connected PTSD diagnosis.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a neck injury, including cervical strain, and psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, are not granted. The case is being remanded due to inadequate notice regarding personal assault stressor claims.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a back disability, and a skin disability need further development due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for a low back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and PTSD due to MST) as they must be further evaluated with additional military records.

The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) set aside the Board's January 2019 decision, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted sufficient to reopen the Veteran’s previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The appeal is granted as new and material evidence has now been received.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted service connection, but his back disorder and pneumonia are denied. The right knee disorder remains remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's schizophrenia, a psychiatric condition, had its onset during his military service and is related to it. The Board granted service connection for the condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability. The evidence did not support a finding that the current psychiatric disability was related to military service or due to his service-connected hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding no verified in-service stressors and insufficient evidence to support a diagnosis of PTSD. The Board also found that any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for hemorrhoids prior to December 9, 2019 was denied. The Board also found that the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) but did not establish a causal nexus between his PTSD and in-service stressor.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The case is being remanded to consider whether the Veteran should be granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal due to insufficient information regarding his service in the Puerto Rico Army National Guard, which is necessary for proper adjudication of all appealed issues.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are not related to his military service.,The Board also denied service connection for a bilateral lower extremity disorder, concluding that the Veteran's right knee strain is more likely due to a post-service accident rather than in-service injury.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder and his military service. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to determine if he has any psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, and whether these conditions are related to his time in the military.

The Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine is not service-connected as it did not start during service and is not related to his bilateral foot disability.,Major depressive disorder has been established as a result of military service.

The Veteran's current migraine disability is granted as service-connected, and the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment/mood disorder) is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion.