Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and migraine headaches have been reopened, and the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The initial compensable rating for head scar is denied, but a remand is ordered for further evaluation of the right foot disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, specifically schizoaffective disorder, has been reopened and granted. The Board found new evidence sufficient to raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder and low back disability. The cases will be further developed to determine if service connection can be established.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions on the nature and etiology of the Veteran's alcohol use disorder and whether it is related to his service-connected right hand disability. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a bilateral foot condition and an acquired psychiatric condition due to insufficient evidence on whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating due to failure to appear for VA examinations. The case is returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including nicotine dependence, asbestos exposure, and psychiatric disorders. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated during her military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to provide a supplemental VA opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, as well as service connection for headaches and sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding whether his current acquired psychiatric disorder and cervical spine disability are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for right foot and left foot disabilities, as well as a psychiatric disorder including PTSD. The remaining issues of service connection for liver disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, and right shoulder disability are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), finding that there was no direct link between his in-service experiences and his current condition.

The claim to reopen the service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The claims to reopen for bilateral knee disability and sleep apnea are denied. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is established, but not for bilateral knee or sleep apnea. An increased rating of 40 percent for a back disability is granted.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including headache disorder, sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disorder, abdominal aortic aneurysm, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and left shoulder disorder. The decision also found that pre-existing allergies were not aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and effective date determinations. The main reason is that VA treatment records from January 2016 onwards have not been obtained.

The Veteran's hypertension, diabetes mellitus, PTSD and MDD, erectile dysfunction, right knee disability, and residuals of a head injury (headaches, epilepsy, seizures) have been granted service connection.,However, the Veteran’s claim for service connection for a right knee disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence linking his current condition to his in-service injury.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's low back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) are related to service, but needs further examination for a definitive opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of diabetes mellitus type II with voiding dysfunction remains pending and requires further examination or opinion to determine if he meets the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including MDD and PTSD, secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, is remanded.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen claims for service connection of right hip, left hip, headaches, and psychiatric conditions. However, the claim for a mental disorder is reopened. The effective date for an increased rating of 30 percent for TMJ disorder and bruxism is denied as it does not meet the criteria for earlier effective date.