Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2021

The Board has denied service connection for right testicle removal, a back disorder, erectile dysfunction, and tinnitus due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for psychiatric disorder is reopened but not granted as the Veteran does not have sleep apnea or hypertension that are related to service.,The Board found that there is insufficient evidence to establish a relationship between the diagnosed psychiatric disorders and service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition was dismissed due to his opting into the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act (AMA) review system.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorder, asthma, and TDIU.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claims for CAD, DM2, GERD, HTN, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new and material evidence. The claims are remanded for further development regarding exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for additional development, including obtaining a VA opinion as to the etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder that adequately considers his lay statements. The current VA opinion provided did not address the Veteran's lay statements or provide sufficient rationale.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's in-service alcohol use and its impact on his service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, finding no current diagnosis and insufficient evidence linking the condition to in-service stressors.,Service connection was also denied for bilateral shoulder disability due to lack of in-service injury or disease and insufficient evidence linking current symptoms to service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is rated at 70 percent for the period prior to January 1, 2013, and at 100 percent beginning on that date.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including alcohol abuse disorder, major depressive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is denied. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including her claims of service connection and exposure to stressors.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he has maintained substantial gainful employment since July 2016.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent, effective November 25, 2008. The Veteran's cervical spondylosis with degenerative disk disease is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal for this issue. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, depression, and anxiety is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD and the evidence does not support a finding that his psychiatric disorders began during service or are related to in-service events.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his acquired psychiatric disorder and in-service events, as well as the need for additional medical opinions on the secondary claim.

The Board has granted service connection for low back, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is also found to be related to service.,Service connection was denied for a sleep disorder.

The Board has determined that there are three pre-decisional duty to assist errors regarding the appellant's character of discharge claim. The claims file is being remanded for obtaining outstanding VA treatment records, private mental health provider records, and service personnel records related to the NDRB upgrade from a Bad Conduct Discharge to an Other Than Honorable (OTH) discharge. A VA psychiatrist or psychologist will be asked to provide an opinion on whether the appellant was insane at the time of his misconduct.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of renal cell carcinoma and anxiety disorder have been granted due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange during service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee condition, left knee condition, and asthma have been remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received, granting the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral pes planus, lumbar spine disorder, epididymitis, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder.,The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received, granting the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, lumbar spine disorder, epididymitis, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for lumbar disc disease, right leg nerve damage, chronic rhinitis, brain disease due to trauma, and an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) have been dismissed due to failure to comply with the appropriate claims processing rules regarding perfection of a Board appeal.,The Veteran did not file timely notices of disagreement or VA Form 10182s for these claims within one year of receiving notification letters from the RO, which required him to do so under the old and modernized appeals systems.