Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and will obtain an opinion regarding a relationship between the Veteran's PTSD and active service.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for TBI with residual headaches, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability secondary to TBI, and service connection for sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on being housebound prior to August 18, 2015 is denied because he did not have a single service-connected disability rated as totally disabling or a TDIU rating based on one disability.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and HTN, to include as secondary to DM and PTSD. The Veteran's reported stressors were not verified, and the claim for PTSD was denied due to lack of corroborated in-service stressor. Service connection for HTN is also denied because there is no current service-connected disability for which it could be considered secondary.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient evidence and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's type 2 diabetes mellitus is granted service connection based on direct evidence. The claim for left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left elbow disability, and right elbow disability are remanded due to lack of recent VA examinations. Service connection for psychiatric disability is also remanded.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his withdrawal of these issues. The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral flat feet is granted, and the issue of TDIU is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral knee disability, alcohol poisoning, traumatic brain injury, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence does not support finding that any of these conditions began during service or are related to in-service events.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient service connection determinations and rating issues. The Board finds that the claims for PTSD, depression, and left wrist disability need further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to new evidence received after a previous denial of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The issues include increased disability rating for urinary bladder urgency, TDIU, SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status, and aid and attendance allowance for his spouse.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and the remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for an ear disorder/disease and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link to service. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The issues of service connection for headaches, acid reflux, prostate disability, hypothyroidism, erectile dysfunction, and an increased rating for tinnitus have all been granted in a previous decision.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), to include as secondary to degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine due to inadequate opinions in the previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder is rated at 50 percent prior to January 25, 2019, and at 70 percent from January 25, 2019, to August 11, 2020. The appeal for a higher rating remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous instructions regarding stressor information and examination for acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received, but additional development is needed. The low back claim remains on hold as there are issues with obtaining relevant records and confirming a stressor.

The Veteran's dental disorder claim is denied as there was no in-service trauma or combat injury that caused her condition.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder claim is denied because she does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD, which is required for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incomplete VA examination, specifically failing to address the aggravation prong of secondary service connection for the acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete records and for further examination. The Veteran's low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and psychiatric disorder are all under review.