Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability and cause of death due to multiple blunt force injuries. Additional development is needed, including obtaining an opinion on whether the Veteran witnessed two servicemen passing away in a car accident during service.

Service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine has been granted.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include as secondary to a lumbar spine disorder, has also been granted.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea are being remanded for further evaluation.,The cause of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is also being evaluated to determine if it is related to his service-connected psychiatric disorder or other factors.,The issue of a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder prior to July 10, 2019, and entitlement to a TDIU prior to March 16, 2021, is also being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,The issue of a TDIU prior to March 16, 2021, remains on appeal as part of the increased rating claim.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions obtained after the most recent remand are inadequate and the claims must be remanded again for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if his conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's appeals for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability, service connection for low back disability, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to lack of recent VA treatment records. The appellant is asked to provide details about his VA treatment and obtain any missing records.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as there is no longer a valid claim for an earlier effective date due to the severance of service connection for schizophrenia.

The Veteran's skin condition is denied as it cannot be service-connected based on an undiagnosed or unexplained multi-symptom illness theory of entitlement.,Service connection for a chronic multi-symptom Gulf War illness, manifested by chronic fatigue syndrome and chronic joint pain, is granted.,Service connection for a chronic multi-symptom Gulf War illness, manifested by chronic joint pain, is granted.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood and insomnia disorder, is granted.

The Veteran's dental condition is granted a 30 percent rating, but no higher. The issue of an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder prior to June 21, 2019 and thereafter remains on remand.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient explanation in the September 2017 VA examination report. The Veteran's claims are not granted as there is no evidence of a significant threshold shift or change in his hearing acuity during service.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, asthma, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim for sleep apnea was denied as the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of this condition.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disability, right and left lower extremity frostbite residuals, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), prostate cancer, cervical spine disability, shoulder, elbow, and wrist disabilities, and gastrointestinal disorders. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus, type 2, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disability due to incomplete medical opinions and inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and osteoarthritis and psoriatic arthritis, finding that the Veteran's conditions are not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for PTSD is denied.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorder, is granted.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for dermatophytosis pedis, head trauma with headaches, upper back injury, lower back injury, hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The issues are now remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate review of the Veteran's claims file and her additional arguments regarding the adequacy of the April 2018 VA examination. The Veteran is requested to undergo a new mental health examination, including discussion of stressors related to her history of suicide attempts, episodes of hypomania, TBI in service, and head injury during active duty for training.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including alcohol disorder and schizoaffective disorder, depressive type. The Veteran is required to provide a new medical opinion that provides an adequate rationale for the opinion provided.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The case will be returned to obtain additional opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions, including consideration of in-service stressors and exposure to herbicide agents.