Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and its relationship to his service-connected Crohn’s disease. Additional development is needed, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and any private treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for headaches, low back disability, right knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence showing a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's schizophrenia with major depressive disorder is rated at a 70 percent disability rating, and he is granted TDIU based on his service-connected mental disorders.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding all acquired psychiatric disorders, including depression.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder may be service-connected, but more evidence is needed to determine this.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for diabetes mellitus is granted, and the claims for service connection for varicose veins, viral meningitis, right knee disability, bilateral flatfeet, shin splints (to include as due to bilateral flatfeet), and an acquired psychiatric disorder are denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for shin splints has been denied as there is no current diagnosis or treatment for the condition.,Barrett's esophagus and hepatitis C are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to service, with a request for an addendum opinion from VA.,PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders are also remanded, requiring an addendum opinion on whether they were incurred in or caused by service.

The claim for service connection for PTSD remains denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.,The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional evidence and a new examination to determine the etiology of any diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's nasal disability is granted service connection. The right knee, back, and OSA disabilities are remanded for additional development. Service connection for TBI and acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and PTSD) is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with lower extremity radiculopathy, left ear hearing loss, and a psychiatric disorder due to outstanding treatment records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder and a psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to a heart disorder, need further examination and evaluation. The decision is remanded.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar disc disease remains at a 40% rating. Service connection for psychiatric disorders, left and right arm numbness are remanded due to inadequate examination standards.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete information from private treatment records. The appellant is advised to provide authorization forms with complete identifying information for each provider so as to allow VA to attempt to obtain such relevant records.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia prior to January 30, 2006 is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for Eligibility to Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 prior to January 30, 2006 is also denied.

The Board has withdrawn the appeals of several issues, including an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for peripheral neuropathy of the left arm and a compensable evaluation for a left arm scar. The appeal regarding service connection for PTSD is remanded due to issues with effective date and rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including psychiatric disability, coronary artery disease, diabetes, diabetic nephropathy, gastroparesis, and nerve impairments in the left lower extremity, cause him to be unable to seek or maintain gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed PTSD and its relationship to service. The VA needs to obtain additional medical records, verify the in-service stressor, and provide a new psychiatric examination.

The Board has granted the application to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD based on MST. The Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD is found to be related to her military service.

The Board has denied service connection for recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax of the left lung and remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder.