Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2021

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including anxiety disorder, results in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas but not total occupational and social impairment. The claim for an initial rating of 70 percent is granted.

The Veteran's service connection for sleep apnea is granted, and he is also granted a TDIU due to his service-connected psychiatric disability, COPD, and hepatitis B preventing him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's schizophrenia, which was granted in November 2009, resulted in a TDIU effective September 17, 2007. The Board found that the Veteran had been employed full-time as a medical assistant prior to June 22, 2007 and thus denied an earlier effective date for the TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for headaches, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete service treatment records and conflicting medical opinions. The Veteran's claims of head injuries, headaches, and psychiatric disabilities are being reviewed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disability, finding that there was no causal relationship between his current psychiatric condition and his service-connected shoulder disabilities. The Board also found no evidence to support aggravation of any pre-existing psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran had a pre-existing psychiatric condition or that his current conditions were related to military service.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations obtained are inadequate for adjudicating the Veteran's claims. Therefore, an additional remand is necessary to obtain new examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for further examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for psychiatric disorders, including depressive disorder and schizophrenia, is being reviewed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety and depression. The decision is remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection was not granted as there is no diagnosed current right ankle disability or mental health condition related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a right ankle disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine disorder, excessive scar tissue on the back and acquired psychiatric disorder (posttraumatic stress disorder and anxiety), diabetes mellitus, type II, right arm disorder, left arm disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, and erectile dysfunction due to in-service exposure to ionizing radiation. The claims are remanded for additional development including obtaining medical opinions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, headaches, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to new and material evidence. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations were not conducted as per the July 2017 remand instructions and thus, the case is being returned to the AOJ for further development. The issues of service connection for various conditions are now pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD due to inadequate etiology opinions provided by VA examiners in October 2019. The appeal is now pending again.

The Board has denied service connection for left and right shoulder conditions, as well as hypertension and a psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's current conditions are not found to be related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and because the issues of insomnia and hypertension are intertwined with this claim. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is rated at 100 percent since December 6, 2013. The issue of TDIU is moot as the Veteran is already in receipt of a combined disability rating and SMC.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death, as the Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and the need for a new VA psychiatric examination.