Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of Hepatitis C due to incomplete development, specifically missing VA treatment records from the Bronx VAMC. The Veteran is also requested to provide any additional information or evidence that may be relevant.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to inadequate VA opinions and factual inaccuracies in previous decisions.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss. The cases of knee disability, back disability, bilateral hip radiculopathy (claimed), and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran currently has a psychiatric disorder related to his military service, as well as to assess the current severity of his CAD. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricability with the other claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the need for additional evidence from Riverside Chiropractic Center and Dr. Roland Amash.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including low back disability, bilateral leg disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and major depressive disorder), and bronchial asthma. The evidence submitted was found to be new but not material.

The Board has remanded the cases of cervical spine disability, low back disability, bilateral pes planus, and hypertension for additional development. The Veteran's claims are not currently addressed as they pertain to service connection.

The Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for a bilateral ankle disability and increased ratings for right shoulder, bilateral knee, back, and bilateral foot disabilities have been withdrawn. The appeal to increase the rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been dismissed as the full benefit sought was granted.

The Veteran's schizophrenia, bilateral eye disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral foot disorder, hypertension, and respiratory disorder (bronchitis) are all granted service connection. The initial higher rating claim for seborrheic dermatitis is also addressed in the remand section.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a failure to obtain private treatment records, and will address these issues once VA receives the Veteran's completed forms.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to a diagnosed psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's reported stressors were not valid under VA regulation, and his sleep difficulties began many years after discharge.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and right shoulder disability, but denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and sleep apnea. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was reopened due to new evidence received since the last denial.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and a right arm disability due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.,VA will need to provide examinations and obtain medical opinions regarding the nature of the acquired psychiatric disability and the right arm disability, as well as review any outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, previously rated as schizophrenia undifferentiated type, is granted a 100% disability rating from July 22, 1971. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to December 16, 1972 is rendered moot by the grant of a 100% PTSD rating.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee arthritis, lumbar degenerative arthritis, and unspecified depressive disorder. The lumbar disability is also secondary to the right knee disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected.,Service connection for hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, spine disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and anxiety) are remanded due to inadequate examination findings and need further development.,The Veteran’s skin disabilities of the back and ears are remanded due to insufficient exposure basis documentation.,Service connection for a spine disability is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, tremors of the left hand, and tremors of the right hand as there was no credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressors occurred.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's chloracne and PTSD with alcohol dependence are granted as service connected due to exposure to Agent Orange. The acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and major depressive disorder, is denied. Service connection for a back disability and neck disability is remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of claims for effective dates earlier than January 29, 2018 for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The appeal is REMANDED for further development on issues including low back disorder, diabetes mellitus type 2, psychiatric disorders, and bilateral hearing loss.