Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The claims for service connection for hypertension, right knee disability, left knee disability, right foot disability, left foot disability, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability have been reopened.,The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has also been reopened.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his degenerative disc disease and related conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board found that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bipolar affective disorder was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board found that his diagnosed bipolar affective disorder is at least as likely as not incurred during active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and reconsideration of service connection claims, including a gynecological disorder (cervical dysplasia), an upper respiratory condition (COPD), a psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder, NOS), and a liver disorder (hepatitis C).

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder, knee, and hip disabilities are not service-connected as they are less likely than not related to his active duty.,His low back disability is also denied as it did not manifest during service or within one year of separation.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability (PTSD) is granted as service-connected. The skin, hemorrhoids, and undiagnosed illness claims are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and residuals of a head injury, including headaches and TBI. The VA will request an expert opinion to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disability, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and impotence claimed as erectile dysfunction due to lack of current diagnoses. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability is remanded due to the need for additional mental health treatment records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable.,The claim for service connection for skin cancer and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression) is remanded due to the need for additional development regarding exposure to ionizing radiation during service.,The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, is remanded as it may be significantly impacted by a determination on the skin cancer claim.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and granted them. The claim for a lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for lumbar degenerative disease and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, as well as his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (stressor related disorder claimed as PTSD). The claims were reopened due to new evidence submitted since the final rating decision. Service connection is established for these conditions based on direct evidence of their onset in service.

The Veteran was granted a disability rating of 70 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder effective November 23, 2009.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was also granted effective November 23, 2009.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically opioid use disorder, as secondary to his service-connected back conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and insufficient evidence to establish a link between any diagnosed condition and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous directives and because the VA medical opinion is inadequate. The Veteran's testimony regarding a heat stroke episode during service needs to be addressed in a new examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder secondary to fibromyalgia, rating higher than 40 percent for fibromyalgia, and entitlement to TDIU due to inextricability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) and tinnitus have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions, and the evidence does not support a causal link to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), residuals of frostbite of the hands and feet, and acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depressive disorder (MDD). The evidence received since the February 2011 rating decision is not material.

The Veteran's claim for VA compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a right hip disorder due to an October 2008 resurfacing procedure was denied because the evidence did not show that VA care caused additional disability, and his sinusitis is granted a 50% rating.