Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened, and he is now entitled to a remand for further examination. His claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, are also being remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent. The Board found no basis for a higher rating and denied his claim.,Service connection was not granted for an acquired psychiatric disability, as it was not shown to be incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disability and remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral eye condition and special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance.,Further development is needed to determine if any diagnosed disabilities had onset during, or were otherwise caused by, active service.

The Board has denied service connection for a migraine condition and remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder (claimed as asthma) and a psychiatric disorder (to include posttraumatic stress disorder, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood), both of which were not found to be related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including a mood disorder and PTSD. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran’s mood disorder or depressive disorder had its onset in service or was otherwise etiologically related to service.

The case is being remanded due to the need to ascertain if any of the Veteran's service records are misfiled. The Veteran served with the Army National Guard and had a period of active duty for training.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the VA examiner's opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed schizophrenia. A new examination is needed to determine if any diagnosed psychiatric disabilities, including schizophrenia, are related to his active service.

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, is granted.,Service connection for a headache disability, diagnosed as tension headaches, caused or aggravated by service-connected disabilities, is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) was denied as his METs level did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to June 29, 2012 was also denied due to lack of substantial gainful employment.

The Board has determined that additional information is required to decide the claims for left foot disorder, right leg shin splints, gastrointestinal disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, and cervical spine disorder. The Veteran's service connection claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting evidence regarding his claimed conditions and lack of development on stressor verification.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,Service connection is denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, benign prostate hyperplasia with voiding problems (prostate disability), and hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia, paranoid type, PTSD, and mood disorder was denied in a November 1988 rating decision. The effective date of the grant of service connection is October 27, 2003.

The Board has expanded the scope of the claim to include all potentially diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders. The Veteran's testimony and service records support a stressor event, but there is no medical diagnosis for PTSD or other mental health conditions. The case is remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's headaches are found to be related to his service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.,Service connection for pituitary macroadenoma is denied as there is no evidence of a causal relationship with the Veteran's service. The claim for secondary service connection due to headaches is also denied.,The Veteran's hypertension is remanded for further examination, and it is unclear if it is related to his service or aggravated by his headaches.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD) is remanded as the stressor events have not been verified.

The claim for restoration of a 20 percent rating for a lumbar spine disorder, from April 1, 2018 onwards, is granted. The claims for service connection for headaches, acid reflux with heartburn, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include anxiety disorder), and sleep apnea with insomnia are remanded.

The Board has denied a higher disability rating for the Veteran's left elbow fracture and remanded the service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability. The case is now pending with instructions to obtain a new expert opinion from a psychologist.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted a 50% rating. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for respiratory condition, colitis, and prostate gland hypertrophy due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a gallbladder condition is denied, while her claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including MDD and PTSD) is granted.