Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional verification of the Veteran's claimed stressors and service-connected conditions, as well as further examination to determine the etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, is granted. However, his claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is denied.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating claim for right cheek scar was denied. The Board found that the scar did not meet criteria for a higher rating due to lack of painful, unstable, or disfiguring characteristics. Service connection claims for back disability and psychiatric disability were also denied as there was no evidence of continuity of symptomatology or etiology with service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for left foot, right foot, and low back disabilities have been dismissed. The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and hypertension has been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability and an acquired psychiatric condition are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete service records and unclear dates of service. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and schizophrenia are both being reviewed again, with a focus on the types of service performed during his Army Reserve and National Guard service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, chronic headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD to include as secondary to a service-connected disability due to incomplete development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and the need for a new VA opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for migraines and hepatitis C due to potential aggravation by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD) was denied, and the TDIU claim was also denied. The Board found that new and relevant evidence had been received to readjudicate the TDIU claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error in the March 2020 rating decision. A new C&P examination is needed to address the deficiencies of the previous examination and provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including unspecified schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders and anxiety disorder, had its onset during or within the initial year after service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the other issues related to bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (generalized anxiety disorder) are remanded due to failure to report for VA examinations.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the appellant's claims, including obtaining his complete SSA file and VA treatment records. The appeal will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, TBI, acquired psychiatric disorder, headaches, and respiratory disorder were denied as they are not service-connected.

The Veteran was granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as Major Depressive Disorder with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, secondary to her service-connected Bell's palsy.,However, the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for Bell's Palsy remains denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding his in-service TBI and related symptoms. The cases are also remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records from Dr. H., associating outside treatment records with the claims file, and scheduling a VA examination for sinusitis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The case will be returned for an addendum opinion that assesses whether any pre-existing mental condition was aggravated by service or if a current diagnosis is related to active duty.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions were dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining in-service mental health records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims file will be referred to a suitably qualified examiner for an opinion on the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disorder.