Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to duty-to-assist errors and insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's service treatment records prior to 1986 are requested, and a new psychiatric examination is needed to determine if any acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to March 25, 2019 for TDIU was denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that her service-connected disabilities prevented her from obtaining and maintaining employment prior to March 25, 2019.,The Veteran's appeal for past-due benefits by the grants of basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) and TDIU effective March 25, 2019 was remanded. The Board noted that there was a discrepancy in the amount of past-due benefits awarded and ordered a complete audit/accounting.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right wrist, cervical and lumbar spine disorders, and a service-connected mental disorder, precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment throughout the appeal period. The claim for TDIU is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and missing treatment records. The Veteran's current diagnoses of imbalance, psychiatric disability (likely anxiety), and bilateral knee disabilities are being reviewed.

The appeals for service connection of a left eye disorder, respiratory disorder (chest nodules), and left leg disorder have been dismissed. The appeals for stomach disability, lumbar spine disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, and hypertension are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, respiratory disabilities (COPD and Pulmonary Fibrosis), hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and hiatal hernia. The decision is based on the Veteran's competent lay reports of symptom onset during active service.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and sleep apnea have been reopened, and service connection has been granted for both conditions based on direct evidence of a link between the conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death and no proper substitution of an eligible individual for the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to unclear examination reports and need for additional medical opinions. The issues include PTSD, low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an additional etiological opinion that is in conformity with the DSM-IV and addresses the Veteran's lay statements regarding his tours of duty. The claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing condition worsened during his brief period of active duty.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various disabilities such as respiratory/pulmonary disability, heart disability (coronary artery disease), hypertension, circulatory disability, skin condition (solar lentigo), sleep apnea, allergies, general arthralgia, right eye disability, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The issues have been remanded due to inadequate record and need for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no competent evidence of a diagnosis or treatment during service and concluding that his current condition is less likely related to any in-service injury. The preponderance of the evidence supports this decision.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence showing a current diagnosis. The issue of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is also being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran meets the schedular percentage requirements for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, which prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to inadequate examinations and failure to consider changes in rating criteria over time.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, specifically failure to obtain and associate with the record certain medical records from his Reserve Component service, Social Security Administration disability benefits, and treatment records. The Veteran is also required to undergo VA examinations for psychiatric and hearing loss issues.

The Board has remanded the issues of rating for Major Depressive Disorder and a Psychiatric Disorder prior to March 25, 2019, and on and after March 25, 2019, as well as TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance eligibility prior to March 25, 2019. The Veteran was last evaluated in March 2019, and a new evaluation is needed.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks prior to November 30, 2020.,From November 30, 2020, the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks; and occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity thereafter.