Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2021

The Board has denied service connection for a mental disorder, but has remanded the issues of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, scars, and a skin disorder. The Veteran's claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and whether any psychiatric disability is related to his service-connected hearing loss. The appeal for an increased rating remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further action due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, eye disability, and COPD. The claims will be reconsidered with new examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's headaches started during service and continued until his death. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's headaches had their onset in service, and grants service connection for headaches.,Regarding the acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, Anxiety Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Schizoaffective Disorder), the Board notes there are several diagnoses present. Adequate opinions have not been obtained that separately address each theory of entitlement and psychiatric disorder that the Veteran was diagnosed with during the period on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating, finding that his service-connected psychiatric disorder and tinnitus did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and unclear diagnoses. The Veteran will need to undergo additional VA examinations to clarify his conditions and determine their relationship to service.

The Veteran's chest scars from surgeries for gynecomastia are service-connected.,Prostate cancer is service-connected as it had onset within one year of active duty service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected on a presumptive basis. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient competent medical evidence and incomplete evidentiary record. The Veteran is required to undergo an examination to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, adjustment disorder, and depression. Verification efforts are also needed to corroborate the Veteran's reported stressors during service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and residuals of TBI due to incomplete medical records and insufficient opinions regarding service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and an intestinal disorder, including as due to herbicide exposure. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and sleep apnea, as these matters are inextricably intertwined with each other. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder claim will be further developed by obtaining a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not related to his service. If service connection is established, the examiner should also provide an opinion on whether the sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by the acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, as his manifestations of any additional claimed acquired psychiatric disability are not clearly distinguishable from his service-connected PTSD. The appeal is remanded for further development on several orthopedic issues.

The Veteran's collapsed vein condition, immune system dysfunction, and acquired psychiatric disorder are not service connected.,The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, was granted. Service connection for PTSD was denied. For the rating period from March 4, 2016 to December 7, 2016, a 50 percent disability rating for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis was granted. For the rating period from December 7, 2016 forward, an increased disability rating in excess of 50 percent is not possible as the Veteran is already at the maximum allowable rating under Diagnostic Code 5276.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death, and the appeal was not valid as it did not follow the proper procedures for legacy system appeals.

The Board has vacated its August 17, 2020 decision and remanded the cases for further development to obtain all service hospital records.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and dysthymic disorder. The claim of service connection for a personality disorder is denied.,Service connection for the left wrist condition and gastrointestinal condition (IBS) are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for psychiatric disorders, ACA aneurysm status post craniotomy, cognitive deficits and dementia, and headache disorder as there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year following discharge. The Veteran's symptoms were attributed to his post-service ACA aneurysm.