Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral hearing loss were dismissed as these conditions were already granted in August 2020.,Prior to December 10, 2019, the Veteran was assigned a non-compensable rating for her right and left heel spurs. After that date, she is assigned a 10 percent disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (MDD), right knee strain and osteoarthritis, left knee strain and osteoarthritis, and bilateral hearing loss. The claims are based on direct evidence of a relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, skin condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD, bipolar disorder, anxiety with panic disorder and dysthymic depression), finding no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and TDIU has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining new VA opinions and obtaining treatment records from a private facility. The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome is being evaluated in light of these new pieces of evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability, acquired psychiatric disability, and vertigo are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for her acquired psychiatric disability and for a TDIU. Additional evidence is needed, including updated treatment records and a VA examination for mental disorders. The Veteran will also be provided with forms to apply for TDIU.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD due to new and material evidence. The case is now remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's disabilities are related to his military service, specifically in-service injuries or illnesses. The VA examinations need to address these issues and provide a rationale for their conclusions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and back disability, were denied. The Board found the Veteran not credible due to his history of disciplinary actions, substance abuse, and violent behavior.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as depression, was granted in an August 2021 rating decision. This decision represents a full grant of the benefits sought on appeal. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizoaffective disorder, finding that it was aggravated by his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's hypertension is not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange in Guam. For the acquired psychiatric disorder, more information is needed to determine if it is related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete verification of the appellant's periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA). The lumbar spine disorder, major depressive disorder, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome are all currently diagnosed. The Board instructed that further VA opinion is needed after verifying the service dates.

Service connection is granted for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)/Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the lumbar spine.,Service connection is also granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression and anxiety.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory disorder, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) due to alleged exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to determine the relationship between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service. The claims for service connection will be remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology and aggravation of the Veteran's vertigo, which is claimed as secondary to service-connected tinnitus and/or acquired psychiatric disorders.