Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities. The Veteran is not found to have a current psychiatric disability, but his service records show he was diagnosed with an acquired psychiatric disability during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including his in-service experiences. Further development is needed to verify these events and obtain an addendum opinion from a clinician.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete or missing records and inconsistent responses during VA examinations. The Veteran's service connection claims will be reconsidered after further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD) has been dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for peripheral neuropathy in all four extremities due to herbicide exposure and/or as secondary to diabetes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, a disability manifested by frequent urination, left leg shin splints, right leg shin splints, and right and/or left knee disabilities due to outstanding medical questions.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and to obtain adequate medical opinions. The Veteran's representative questioned the competency of previous VA examiners, and the appeal is being remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for Alzheimer’s type dementia and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete development. The VA is required to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD and alcohol use disorder. The decision also remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral foot fungus and skin blisters on scrotum, bilateral legs, and bilateral ankles.

The TDIU claim is being held in abeyance until the claims for psychiatric disability and radiculopathy are finally decided.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and service connection due to deficiencies in prior VA examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a back disability are denied as the preponderance of evidence does not support these conditions being related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and thoracolumbar spine disability. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, a delusional disorder or alcohol use disorder; traumatic brain injury (TBI) residuals; neck disorder and lower back disorder due to unresolved medical evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and erectile dysfunction. The claims of service connection for aortic valve stenosis and coronary artery disease (previously claimed as calcific aortic stenosis with chest pain), headaches, obstructive sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disorder including major depressive disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions on secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, is dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations. The Veteran's psychiatric claim is also remanded as new evidence suggests a DSM-5 diagnosis may be warranted.

The Board has denied service connection for a rib disability, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the current diagnosis and active service.,The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a right shoulder disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's right shoulder disability is being examined again to determine if it is related to in-service joint pain, and his acquired psychiatric disorder is being examined again to determine if it is linked to in-service anxiety.,The Board has remanded the issue of a rating for the service-connected left shoulder disability due to inadequate examination. The Veteran's current severity of this condition needs to be assessed.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a lung disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder and PTSD), an alcohol use disorder, a kidney disability, and a heart disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology. The lung disability is presumed related to herbicide exposure. Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II has been granted.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a skin disorder, and a psychiatric disorder. The evidence does not support the Veteran's claims that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant died during the pendency of the case.