Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) due to a duty to assist error. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection as these issues have been fully granted in a June 2021 rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine and low back disabilities, as well as peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities. Service connection is also granted for an acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD and MDD).,Service connection was denied for sleep apnea due to a lack of evidence linking it to the Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted. The Board found that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the claims for left knee disorder and right knee disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The claim for acquired psychiatric disorder is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for paranoid schizophrenia. The Veteran was not provided with an adequate medical opinion and additional development is needed, including obtaining private and VA treatment records from his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain additional medical records, including from SSA. The Veteran's right knee condition is also being reviewed by a VA clinician.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to in-service noise exposure. The cases are being remanded because a new examination is needed for hearing loss and tinnitus, and a VA examination is required to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric condition.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions provided are not in compliance with the remand instructions and thus requires additional examination to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as due to a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected schizophrenia, specifically considering the effects of risperidone medication used for schizophrenia treatment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate examination and opinion.

The Board has denied service connection for schizophrenia and remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than schizophrenia. The case is being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The claim for service connection for PTSD is reopened and denied. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is granted.

The Veteran's renouncement of all VA benefits was valid, and the request to reinstate those benefits is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors and to obtain relevant records, including SSA records. The claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition began during his active military service and is related to his in-service symptoms.

The Board has determined that the July 2016 VA examination report is inadequate and a new examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was granted service connection. Service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD were remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia is reopened and granted. The case is remanded to obtain a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his claimed acquired psychiatric conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for residuals of TBI and for an increased rating for hiatal hernia and GERD due to incomplete or insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's reports of head injury during active duty are being considered, as well as the effects on his employment, daily activities, social life, and family life.