Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2021

Your VR&E benefits to pursue a law degree have been granted. As this resolves your appeal, the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is moot and no longer before the Board.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), finding that his PTSD is at least as likely as not related to his military service. The decision affords the Veteran the benefit of doubt in this matter.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of June 15, 2006 for a rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and a TDIU rating. The decision is based on the severity levels of the Veteran's psychiatric symptomatology and its impact on his ability to secure employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient opinions regarding his sleep apnea, back condition, acquired psychiatric disorder, and respiratory condition. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including fibromyalgia, diabetes mellitus, and a paranoid type schizophrenic reaction, have resulted in permanent loss of use of both feet. The Board has established eligibility for financial assistance to purchase an automobile and adaptive equipment.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and schizophrenia, finding no current diagnosis of PTSD and noting that the Veteran's schizophrenia is not related to his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right shoulder disorder, and bilateral hand disorders due to new evidence submitted after the September 2020 rating decision. The claims are remanded for additional examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that there was no evidence of a causal relationship between his military service and his current psychiatric symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. A new VA medical examination is needed to clarify the Veteran's DSM-5 diagnoses and consider service connection issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of referred issues and will provide another opportunity for the Veteran to submit information. The TDIU claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

Your claims for service connection have been fully granted, and the Board is dismissing your appeal as there are no remaining issues to consider.

The Board has remanded the claims for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (dysthymic disorder and depression) due to VA treatment. The Veteran contends that her conditions were caused or aggravated by VA care.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of in-service stressors. The Veteran's claim for service connection will be reconsidered after verifying the claimed stressors.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing dysthymic disorder was aggravated by his military service. The claim of service connection for a left foot disorder is remanded and will be addressed on further review.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete verification of in-service stressors and insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the acquired psychiatric disorder. The diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and upper extremities are also being remanded as they may be related to herbicide exposure.

Service connection for fibromyositis of the lumbosacral spine was restored, and the issues of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, gastritis, and esophagitis are remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and residuals of head injury, to include headaches (claimed as TBI), are granted service connection. A new VA examination is needed for the claim of residuals of head injury.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anemia is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current disability related to her active service and resolves reasonable doubt in her favor.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and psychiatric disorder (including depression and anxiety) are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a sleep disorder are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors, including the need to corroborate in-service stressors and obtain Social Security Administration records. A VA examination is also required to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed conditions.

The Board has found that the Veteran's low back disability warrants a 40 percent rating from March 30, 2012 to July 15, 2020. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending and is remanded.