Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of a right hip disorder and psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depression, and unspecified neurocognitive disorder. The decision is due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted, as new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim. The Board finds that his current depressive disorder is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder is denied due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of hearing loss disability within one year post-service.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a right ankle sprain is denied as the Veteran's symptoms do not meet criteria for such an increase.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for asthma is denied due to lack of findings meeting specific pulmonary function criteria.,Pension purposes are granted with a permanent and total disability rating based on multiple medical conditions rendering the Veteran unemployable.,Service connection claims for pharyngitis, gastroenteritis/gastritis, migraines, residuals of facial injury, GERD, bronchitis, tendonitis, right foot disability, residuals of infections, shin splints, mononucleosis, neurological disorder, conjunctivitis, primary anemia, and acquired psychiatric disability are all remanded for further review.,The Veteran's service connection claims for these conditions will be reviewed again based on new evidence or clarification.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressors and a need for further psychiatric examination.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia, finding that the Veteran's preexisting condition was not aggravated by his active duty service and that it began during service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as earlier effective dates for those service-connected disabilities, has been withdrawn. The claims for right ear hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral upper extremity neuropathy, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and coronary artery disease have been reopened due to new evidence received since the final denial of these claims. Service connection is granted for these conditions based on herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disability, both related to service-connected hearing loss, tinnitus, or Meniere's disease. The remand requires additional medical opinions regarding the causal relationship between these conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depression, was not shown in service or for many years thereafter and is not otherwise related to active duty service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD (claimed as nervous disorder), and his delusional disorder are not related to service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

Your claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder has been remanded to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development. Specifically, you need to provide updated medical records from several facilities.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder with a rating of 70 percent effective March 13, 2013 and service connection for headaches with a rating of 30 percent effective August 19, 2014. The Veteran's attorney is now eligible for additional fees based on the January 2019 rating decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a left shoulder disability, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, as there are pre-decisional duty to assist errors and need for further medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and effective dates are being remanded due to procedural errors in the prior rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and somatic symptom disorder, as well as obstructive sleep apnea. The claims for a compensable rating for knee disabilities and service connection for nocturnal myoclonus secondary to OSA are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for VA examinations and medical opinions regarding his claimed psychiatric, sleep apnea, cervical spine, and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and for increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities require additional development due to a lack of a VA examination regarding the nature and etiology of his psychiatric symptoms and a failure to comply with the requirements in Sharp v. Shulkin.

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

The Board has decided that the claims for service connection and increased rating are remanded due to issues with adjudicating the CUE claim, as well as needing additional medical opinions on the severity of the right hand laceration and the onset of schizophrenia.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding service connection for PTSD. The appeals to reopen service connection for sinusitis with headaches, allergic rhinitis, and anemia were granted. Service connection was granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and anxiety).