Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder and chronic adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, as well as obstructive sleep apnea. The decision is based on direct evidence of the conditions' onset during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is being reconsidered due to new evidence. The TBI rating remains at 10 percent, and the nasal fracture and lumbar spine disability ratings are also remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's MDD is related to service, separate and apart from his personality disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's periods of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) and Indirect ACDUTRA (INACDUTRA). The claim will be further developed to verify these dates, and a VA examination will be scheduled to determine if the acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, is related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the OSA is at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a psychiatric condition was dismissed due to the appellant's death prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for depression has been denied due to lack of evidence showing the disability was caused by VA care.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for indigestion acid reflux, secondary to headaches, has been denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches remains pending and requires further examination to determine if they are related to service or due to another service-connected disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, secondary to headaches, has been denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and cervical strain, both secondary to his right ankle disability, remain pending and require further examination to determine if they are related to service or due to another service-connected disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, secondary to his right ankle disability, remains pending and requires further examination to determine if it is related to service or due to another service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability and no link to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, should be remanded due to procedural errors in the prior decisions. The decision will require a new examination and opinion regarding her claims based on all relevant evidence.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted as service connected due to a verified in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including schizophrenia and PTSD, is being remanded due to a duty to assist error regarding the verification of his in-service stressor. The VA must also obtain the Veteran's Social Security Administration disability benefits records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to issues with the competency of a VA examiner who conducted an MST examination. The claims will be adjudicated again after obtaining new evidence and ensuring the examiner is competent.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is granted service connection. Service connection for vertigo and hypertension are denied due to lack of current disability. Residuals of stroke are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete record development and need for additional medical opinions. The issues include psychiatric disorders, migraine headaches, muscle spasms of the back and legs (separate from lumbar spine disability), neck disorder, and right ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence was received to warrant readjudicating the claims for service connection for PTSD, headaches/migraines, knee disabilities, and sinusitis. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for postoperative hiatal hernia with abdominal scar, painful umbilical hernia scar, and an acquired psychiatric condition. The issues of angina and heart problems are also being deferred due to their dependency on the outcome of the service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric condition.

The claim for service connection for low back pain has been reopened, and the Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease is granted. The psychiatric disability claims are remanded due to conflicting findings in previous evaluations.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with previous hearing loss ratings and psychiatric disorder service connection. The Veteran will need a new examination for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to difficulty swallowing, a broken nose, left and right hand disabilities, sinusitis, a right hip disability, Hepatitis C, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and schizoaffective disorder), and bilateral eye disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claims for service connection related to difficulty swallowing, a broken nose, left and right hand disabilities, sinusitis, a right hip disability, Hepatitis C, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and schizoaffective disorder), and bilateral eye disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 10, 2015 for service connection for CAD is denied. The Veteran was granted a 60 percent rating for his CAD in March 2019. Service connection for PTSD is denied.