Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a back disability and hemorrhoids, but has determined that further development is needed to address the remaining issues of service connection for lumbosacral spine disability, left leg disability (including radiculopathy and leg shortening), forehead scar, and psychiatric disability. The decision on these issues will be remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including cervical spine disorder, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, headache disorder, sleep apnea, and hypertension. The appeal is not about the rating or effective date of these conditions.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 12, 2012 for the award of a 70 percent evaluation for schizophrenia. The Veteran's claim was received on that date and it is factually ascertainable that his symptoms had reached the level required for a 70 percent rating at that time.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. The Veteran will need to provide his pay records from March 1973 to July 1974, verify his periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA), obtain his treatment records at the Vet Center, and undergo a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for osteoarthritis of the neck, fingers/hands, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD have been granted. The appeal is dismissed as these issues are no longer pending.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically schizophrenia, paranoid type, which they determined originated during his honorable period of active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include major depressive disorder due to a lack of compliance with previous remand directives and the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's back disability, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, and right shoulder disability are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection for a psychiatric disability is not established.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The Board also remanded the claims for neck condition, migraines, left shoulder disability, and right ankle disability due to lack of medical nexus opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA examination for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including sleep condition, psychosis, and insomnia. The Veteran was diagnosed with psychosis in 2014 during service.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to a lack of an examination assessing the Veteran's employability considering his service-connected disabilities. A new VA examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the claims for residuals of a head injury, lumbar spine disability, and related conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service records indicate he had headaches in service but no definitive diagnosis or treatment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and verifying stressor information.

The Veteran's claim for a psychiatric disorder (claimed as nerves) is dismissed as service connection was granted for PTSD with recurrent MDD with anxious distress.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted, while the claim for BPH is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD as a result of military sexual trauma is reopened and remanded. The claims for increased ratings for hammer toes of the left foot and right foot are also remanded. Additionally, the claim for a compensable rating for bilateral corns on feet and initial compensable rating for surgical scars of the feet are remanded. Finally, the TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with these issues and must be remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, adenocarcinoma of the palate, tongue and salivary gland, digestive system deficiency to include GERD and requirement for nasogastric tube, and hypothyroidism have all been denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a separate compensable rating for adenocarcinoma beyond April 1, 2004, as there was no recurrence or metastasis of the cancer. An initial rating in excess of 50 percent for digestive system deficiency has been granted, but the Veteran's hypothyroidism remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. The new evidence includes VA treatment records that link the Veteran’s current eye disability to hypertension, which is currently on appeal.,Service connection has been granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD and major depressive disorder. The Veteran reported symptoms of stress, depression, sleep problems, and irritability during her deployment in Iraq.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to attend a scheduled examination and new evidence obtained from service personnel records. The Veteran is being asked to provide updated medical evidence and undergo an appropriate psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted, and his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the in-service stressor.