Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, variously classified, finding it as likely as not related to the Appellant's period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA).

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding a motor vehicle accident in 1979 and its impact on the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, left lower extremity thrombophlebitis, and venous stasis ulcers.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right shoulder condition and a psychiatric condition due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service causation.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is denied as it is not related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.,The Veteran's stroke is denied as it is not related to service and the Board does not find that it is secondary to his service-connected migraines.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in evidence regarding whether military sexual trauma occurred during service and whether a current acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to service. Further development is needed.

For the period from March 2, 2009 to January 10, 2018, the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.,For the period from June 14, 2012 to January 10, 2018, the Veteran’s psychiatric disability was rated as total and his lumbosacral strain and headache disabilities were together ratable at 60 percent or more.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a 50 percent rating for paranoid schizophrenia, finding that the Veteran did not submit a formal or informal claim until April 24, 2013.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral eye disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and sleep disturbance), and a respiratory disorder (COPD) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,The Veteran's failure to report for VA examinations related to his claims resulted in their denial.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for right cervicothoracic pain and tinnitus as they have been withdrawn by the Veteran. The remaining issues of service connection for various conditions are remanded due to new evidence being added to the record.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition and left ear hearing loss disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to his failure to report for a scheduled VA examination.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizoaffective disorder, was denied as the evidence did not show that it began during service or is related to in-service injury or disease.,Service connection for a low back condition and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were also denied because there was no current diagnosis of these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to his low back condition was denied as the evidence did not show that he had a currently diagnosed low back disability or bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and COPD have been rated based on their current severity. The Board has remanded the claims for further development to obtain medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his hand tremors and acquired psychiatric disorder.,The Veteran's service-connected COPD does not warrant a compensable rating as it is currently manifested by mild pulmonary impairment. His claim for an increased rating is therefore denied.,The Veteran has been diagnosed with hand tremors, which are related to his in-service right hand injury. The Board has remanded the claim for further development to obtain medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his hand tremors.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is currently not service-connected. The Board has remanded the claim for further development to obtain medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C was denied, while his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety) was granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and the need for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder is related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for diabetes, prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during service in the Gulf of Tonkin. The decision also requires a VA examination to address these issues.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability is not service-connected.,Right knee arthritis has been granted as service-connected, but the rating remains at 10%.,Left knee and bilateral foot disabilities are not service-connected.,For the period prior to December 10, 2010, the initial rating for CAD was denied (rating is currently 10%).,For the period after December 10, 2010, a higher rating for CAD remains denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The case is being returned to the RO for additional development, specifically obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claims regarding TDIU, a higher rating for schizophreniform disorder, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than schizophreniform disorder, and service connection for cyst on kidney are all remanded due to the submission of new evidence.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted as service-connected, while his acquired psychiatric disorder remains denied.

The claims for service connection for right and left hip disabilities, low back disability, acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression), and sleep apnea have been dismissed due to the Veteran not timely initiating an appeal with respect to the June 2014 denial of these claims.