Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2021

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of various psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, personality disorder, adjustment disorder, and mood disorder. The decision concluded that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for tinea pedis, bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The RO is to obtain private treatment records from Dr. Seiglman, schedule a VA examination for his bilateral hearing loss, determine if his diabetes mellitus is related to Camp Lejeune exposure, and conduct another VA examination to assess any acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete service treatment records and new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The AOJ is required to obtain all missing service records, schedule VA examinations, and consider all submitted evidence in their decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's psychiatric disorder is aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, is related to his service. The examiner must determine if the disability clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU based on his service-connected mental disabilities, finding that apart from these conditions, he could still perform substantially gainful employment. The other service-connected conditions did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's back condition, Parkinson’s disease, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression), and eye condition are all granted service connection. However, the VA has not provided sufficient evidence to determine if his neck and knee conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of plantar warts, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied. The remaining claims are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of various conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disorder, right foot onychomycosis, and service-connected coronary artery disease were granted. The issues of service connection for arteriosclerosis, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral eye disorder, bilateral hip disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, cervical disorder, headache disorder, low back disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, vertigo, dental disorder, obesity, and left foot onychomycosis are dismissed.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that any psychiatric disability was caused by service, had its onset during service or within one year of separation from service, or was caused or aggravated by any service-connected disabilities. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability is therefore denied.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) and remanded other issues related to the Veteran's disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of a low back disorder and a psychiatric disorder, leading to the dismissal of these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, residuals of TBI, and acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of delayed onset hearing loss or other conditions related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened due to new and material evidence. However, his service connection claim remains denied as the evidence does not establish a direct link between his military service and his current condition.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination and opinion to clarify the Veteran's diagnoses, including whether he has schizophrenia. The claim is still pending as service connection.

The Board has remanded both the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition and an eye condition due to insufficient medical opinions addressing potential Gulf War exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and issues related to effective dates for a psychiatric disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show that his hearing acuity warranted a compensable evaluation.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as PTSD, was also denied because there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and the Veteran has not provided credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor.