Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, headaches, tinnitus, and psychiatric disorder. Service connection is granted for tinnitus but other claims are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete personnel records and inconsistencies in his statements regarding the onset of various conditions. The issues will be reconsidered after obtaining all available service records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and acquired psychiatric disability secondary to a spine disability. The issues are related to service connection based on aggravation of pre-existing conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disorder and femur condition.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The claims for emphysema and sleep apnea are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The claim for neuropathy of the lower extremities is also remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding presumptive exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, primarily his acquired psychiatric disorder and lower back disability, render him unemployable. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s current bilateral hearing loss is related to acoustic trauma experienced during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete service treatment records and a need to review newly submitted evidence, including a VA examination for PTSD.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and MDD) are granted service connection, but tinnitus is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia, finding that it had its initial onset during active duty and is not related to a pre-existing condition. The appeal as to whether new and material evidence was received to reopen the previously denied claim is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to lumbar spine degenerative disc disease. The claims for hypertension, DM, acquired psychiatric disorder, symptomatic paroxysmal atrial flutter, glaucoma, left and right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, and right knee strain are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to incomplete development. The AOJ needs to complete the directed development or provide an explanation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to insufficient medical opinions, need for updated VA records, and inextricably intertwined nature of the issues.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including Major Depressive Disorder and PTSD), and chronic cough. The Veteran's claims are pending as they have not been fully adjudicated.

The Board dismissed the appeals for reopening service connection claims due to the Veteran's death, as they have no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these appeals at this time.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities, as well as service connection for PTSD. The remand requires obtaining additional medical opinions regarding functional loss during flare-ups and considering private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee, back, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathy, headache disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) due to additional development being required.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no service connection was granted or denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development, including a VA examination and review of medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD related to military sexual trauma is granted. The claim for service connection for an eye disorder (claimed as eyesight) is denied.