Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for multiple cerebral cysts associated with seizures and a neurocognitive disorder including psychiatric disorders and memory loss due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the nature of his disabilities and their relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder. The evidence did not show that his current psychiatric disability was incurred or aggravated by military service and pre-existed service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of appendix removal, gall bladder removal, vision disorder, body sweats, hearing loss, Meniere’s disease, tinnitus, colon cancer (also claimed as partial colon/intestinal removal), testicular cancer and removal, Barrett's esophagus, right foot peripheral neuropathy, left foot peripheral neuropathy, right hand peripheral neuropathy, left hand peripheral neuropathy, chronic fatigue syndrome, right knee disability, left knee disability, hepatitis C, malaise, neck surgery broken vertebra, sleep apnea, irritable bowel syndrome, subcutaneous cell carcinoma, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been withdrawn. The remaining issues of service connection for hearing loss, Meniere’s disease, and tinnitus are REMANDED.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia, OSA, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of PTSD related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including a mood disorder and PTSD, was granted with an effective date of November 29, 2011. The Board found that the earliest evidence of a diagnosis met the DSM criteria for PTSD.

The claim for service connection for mixed hyperlipidemia was denied as new and material evidence was not submitted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, anemia, chronic kidney disease, respiratory disability, rheumatoid arthritis, and psychiatric disability were granted due to in-service noise exposure during combat in Vietnam.

The Veteran's psychiatric condition is now rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. This decision grants an increased disability rating.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, left leg disability, right leg disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, and peptic ulcer disease as the evidence did not show these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.,The Board found that there was no continuity of symptomatology from active duty to current time.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected right knee, right shoulder, and cervical spine disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as he is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disability and a headache disorder due to inadequate examination in August 2019.,The preponderance of evidence is against finding that the Veteran’s current conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease, left knee disability, right knee disability, bilateral pes planus, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of VA examinations and inextricably intertwined issues. The right arm disability claim is being remanded for another examination, while the psychiatric disorder claim is being remanded as it is dependent on the outcome of the right arm disability claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied in September 2013 due to lack of corroborated stressors. The RO reopened the claim in February 2015 and again denied it, finding no new and material evidence. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine is remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete VA opinions and requires a new examination to address the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's broken bones claim is denied as there is no current diagnosed condition.,The Veteran's migraine headaches claim is denied due to lack of a causal relationship with service.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability claim is denied based on the absence of a link between the 1994 car accident and current symptoms.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability claim is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service or the 1994 car accident.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability claim is denied for similar reasons.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) claim is denied due to lack of a causal relationship with service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his psychiatric disorder and bilateral foot condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cardiovascular disorder (heart attack) and a psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder). The reasons include the need for VA examinations to address whether these conditions are related to his military service, including stress from his MOS as an air traffic controller.

The Board has remanded the claims for a psychiatric disorder, right knee condition, and left knee condition due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service records indicate he had sleepwalking issues and alcoholism during service, which may be related to his current mental health conditions and knee pain.