Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for calcaneal spur, left foot and ankle; disabilities of the feet to include plantar fasciitis and bilateral pes planus; diabetes mellitus, Type II; TBI; and psychiatric disorder (PTSD). The issues are related to service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, has been reopened. The Board is remanding this issue due to the need to corroborate in-service stressors.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened. The Board is also remanding this issue as it is inextricably intertwined with the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened. The Board is also remanding this issue as it is inextricably intertwined with the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II has been reopened. The Board is also remanding this issue as it is inextricably intertwined with the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, and hypertension.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction has been reopened. The Board is also remanding this issue as it is inextricably intertwined with the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, and left arm disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left arm disability has been reopened. The Board is also remanding this issue as it is inextricably intertwined with the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives and an error in the factual premise regarding the Veteran's first treatment for a mental disorder after service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of a bilateral eye disorder, prostate disability, and hypertension secondary to his psychiatric disability. The claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder (Major Depressive Disorder) is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need to obtain additional information from the Veteran.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, is granted service connection. His alcohol use disorder is also granted as secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's glaucoma and psychotic disorder, to include schizophrenia, were not shown to be related to his service or any period of active duty. The Board found no evidence that the Veteran’s current conditions are due to his military service.,For the cervical spine disability, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability, an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as depression and nervous disorder), and a disability manifested by blackout spells. The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability did not result in hospitalization exceeding 21 days at any point during the appeal period, thus preventing a temporary total evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 4.29.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence and need further examination. The issues of low back condition, sleep disorder (including sleep apnea and/or insomnia), and acquired psychiatric disorder remain unresolved.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and an addendum opinion addressing flare-ups and occupational use of the thoracic spine. The Veteran's sleep and acquired psychiatric disorders are also to be evaluated in relation to his service-connected thoracic spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to obtain his service treatment records from July 2001 to December 2001, as these records are necessary to determine if new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen his service connection claims.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the Veteran's failure to appear for a scheduled DRO hearing. The remaining issues are still under review.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including obtaining the Veteran's Social Security Administration (SSA) disability records and readjudicating his service connection claims.

The Veteran's claims for compensable disability ratings for hammer toes and service connection for a sleep disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of outstanding records.

The Board has remanded the cases of sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset during service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder, mild thoracic scoliosis and arthritis with multi-level lumbar spondylosis, and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. The Veteran will also be asked to provide stressor statements for his PTSD claim.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as a chronic adjustment disorder with disturbance of mood and conduct and unspecified delusional disorder. The Veteran's condition is related to his military service events.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. Service connection was not granted due to lack of credible evidence supporting the claimed in-service stressors or events, injuries, or diseases. Increased ratings were denied as there is no objective medical evidence of current disability.