Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the case due to uncertainty about whether VA made reasonable efforts to validate the Veteran's claimed in-service stressor event. The Veteran asserts she witnessed a soldier being bullied and then found dead or dying, but there is no indication that VA attempted to verify this.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and coronary artery disease were all granted service connection. The rating for the coronary artery disease was increased to 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient examination reports and lack of clear and unmistakable evidence regarding pre-service conditions.

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder) is granted. Service connection for a disability of the ears, to include hearing loss and recurrent chronic otitis media, and tinnitus are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal of discontinuation of VR&E benefits and her request for retroactive induction, finding that it was not reasonably feasible to achieve a vocational goal given her disabilities and employment history.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral sensory neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities is denied as there is no current diagnosis.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as there is no current diagnosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD claim is denied, but his acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (including anxiety and depressive disorders) is granted.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a low back disorder, and a left knee disorder due to lack of evidence showing the condition was related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need to address a claim of clear and unmistakable error regarding an earlier effective date for his service-connected schizophrenia with alcohol use disorder.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for a bilateral eye disorder is withdrawn. Service connection for a chronic respiratory disorder is denied, and the case is remanded for further development regarding an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected right knee disabilities and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board has determined that additional development is needed for these claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records, scheduling a new VA psychiatric examination, and determining the proper rating for his right knee conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, psychiatric disability (including PTSD), alcohol dependency/abuse, left eye disability, and memory loss. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and sleep apnea as secondary to his acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is being returned to the RO for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's death by suicide was caused by an acquired psychiatric disability incurred in service, specifically his deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders to his military service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for schizophrenia, alcohol use disorder, stimulant use disorder, and cannabis use disorder.

The Veteran's left thumb disability is currently rated as noncompensable due to a gap of less than one inch between the thumb pad and fingers. The appeal for an increased rating remains pending.,More development is needed regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, including whether they are related to his military service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was vacated by the Court, necessitating a new examination. The appeal for service connection for PTSD remains pending.,A psychiatric examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has any diagnosed psychiatric disorders and their relationship to service. If PTSD is found, it must be determined whether it is related to an in-service stressor or personal assault.,The claim for TDIU may need further development as it could be affected by the results of the above examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including alcohol and drug abuse. The evidence did not support a nexus between the Veteran's current psychiatric condition and his in-service events.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and secondary service connection due to lack of medical evidence linking the Veteran's current conditions to his military service or any in-service events.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic paranoid schizophrenia prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to February 28, 2011. The Board granted the TDIU claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that his current conditions were not related to military service.