Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to additional VA Medical Center records being obtained and not yet considered.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and service connection for acid reflux. The Veteran's military personnel records are incomplete and need to be obtained before reaching a decision on the merits of these claims.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the relationship between hypertension and PTSD, and scheduling an examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's right knee scar and right knee disability are remanded for additional examinations to determine their current severity.,The Veteran's right knee disability is remanded due to an inadequate August 2016 examination report. A new examination is needed to assess the extent of functional impairment during flare-ups.,The left knee disability, depression, and sleep disorder are all remanded for etiology opinions regarding their relationship to service or service-connected disabilities.,Service connection for a psychiatric disorder (depression) and diabetes mellitus are also remanded. The examiner must determine whether the Veteran's current conditions are related to his service in Southwest Asia, as well as any aggravation of these conditions by his service-connected disabilities.,A sleep disorder is remanded for an examination to determine its relationship to service, specifically service in Southwest Asia.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus is also remanded. The examiner must consider the Veteran's pre-diabetes diagnosis during National Guard service and whether a sleep disorder caused or aggravated his current diabetes.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a sinus disability, and chronic fatigue syndrome due to the Veteran's failure to report for VA examinations without good cause. The claims are not original compensation claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PFB is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for asthma is denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and residuals of an infectious disease due to incomplete development of records, including in-service treatment records. The Veteran was not available for examination regarding his stressors and current symptoms.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that no prior correspondence met the criteria to be considered a formal or informal claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, other than schizophrenia and depression (to include PTSD and bipolar disorder), was denied. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his back disability was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including dysthymic disorder, depressive disorder, and anxiety. The decision finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was superimposed upon his pre-existing personality disorder during service.

The Veteran's increased rating for residual traumatic headaches is granted, while the TDIU claim remains pending.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and adjustment disorder) has been reopened due to new evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral pseudophakia and right eye corneal scar are granted service connection.,Weight loss is not a disability for VA compensation purposes, thus the claim is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder was granted. The claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders (including persistent depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic disorder) was also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, PTSD, and erectile dysfunction. The examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions, including whether they are related to service, particularly given the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during active duty.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension, heart disease, a psychiatric disorder, and a bilateral eye disability as the evidence does not support that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in medical opinions regarding the Veteran's depressive disorder and PTSD. The Veteran's depressive disorder is not service connected, making it impossible to grant secondary service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied. The Board also remanded several issues related to peripheral neuropathy, knee disability, sleep apnea, and venous insufficiency.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of fibromyalgia is being remanded due to the need for further development.,The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety, depression, and PTSD), and sleep apnea are being remanded as new evidence has been received that may support these claims.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 13, 2014, for the award of service connection for PTSD and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits has been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not file a formal or informal claim for PTSD prior to this date and that he did not have a permanent and total service-connected disability prior to January 13, 2014.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims on appeal, including obtaining SSA and VAMC records, providing addendum opinions regarding HTN, and assessing the current severity of his service-connected disabilities. The appeals are REMANDED.