Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The Board has granted an effective date of November 1, 1974 for the grant of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability. The matter is remanded to assign a Diagnostic Code and initial disability rating for the period from November 1, 1974 to April 10, 1980.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for schizophrenia and has determined that he is entitled to service connection for this condition. The evidence shows that the Veteran experienced mental health issues during his time in the Coast Guard, which led to a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied as there is no verified in-service stressor. The right shoulder disability claim has been reopened due to new and material evidence, but service connection remains denied.,Service connection for a right shoulder disability secondary to the service-connected right knee disability was granted.,PTSD was not established based on the lack of verified in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the case due to an insufficient medical opinion in the original decision, and a need for a new one from an appropriate clinician regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and OSA due to incomplete verification of in-service stressors and inadequate VA examination regarding the etiology of his sleep disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting medical evidence and insufficient rationale in previous opinions. The Veteran needs to provide or authorize VA access to his private mental health treatment records from HealthPartners, which he mentioned at a hearing. He also needs another opinion on whether any psychological disorder is related to service.

The Board denied service connection for prostate disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), left leg arthritis, and residuals of an ischemic stroke as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claims for stomach condition and severe cramps, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), joint pain, muscle pain, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), obstructive sleep apnea, left eye condition, unspecified depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and tension headaches have been denied.,The Veteran's claims for stomach condition and severe cramps are denied as the evidence does not show a separate and distinct disability from his service-connected irritable bowel syndrome.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development of evidence. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations and obtain medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The claim to reopen the service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's psychiatric history and the need for additional medical opinions regarding service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for low back condition, left knee condition, right foot hallux valgus with degenerative arthritis, right hip trochanteric pain syndrome, and left hip trochanteric pain syndrome. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) is remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension, tinnitus, and headache disorder are granted. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim is remanded for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and major depressive disorder as the evidence does not show a nexus to service or any presumptive conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to June 27, 2019 is being remanded due to the possibility that he may have been unable to maintain gainful occupation due to his service-connected psychiatric disorder. The case will be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for an extra schedular determination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, sleep disturbance, and memory loss. The issues have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection was not granted as there is no direct evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as increased ratings for right knee strain with osteoarthritis and left knee strain with osteoarthritis due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran's National Guard service from January 1997 to November 2000 is unclear, and additional records are needed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for left arm scars and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded several issues for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing supplemental opinions regarding the etiology of various disabilities. Service connection is denied for residuals of a left forearm injury.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for asthma, seizure disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, depressive disorder, adjustment disorder, conversion disorder) due to incomplete records. The case will be returned for further development.