Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2021

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the death of the Appellant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including CAD with AFIB and cardiomyopathy, hypertension, sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, depression, anxiety), erectile dysfunction, and chronic fatigue. The issues are related to the in-service noise exposure and continuity of symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were related to his service-connected PTSD.,Service connection for Hepatitis C was remanded due to the Veteran's in-service and post-service drug use associated with his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD and hemorrhoids and rectal bleeding due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to report for VA examinations. The claims are now pending and need further examination and medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and for TDIU on an extraschedular basis, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a causal relationship between his current psychiatric condition and his military service.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for high blood pressure, a heart disorder, a stomach disorder, and weak vision. The claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for respiratory condition and acquired psychiatric disorder, to include as secondary to tinnitus, have been denied due to lack of a medical nexus between the conditions and service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection related to left shoulder, back, hearing loss, tinnitus, right-hand disability, and acquired psychiatric disabilities (including PTSD and depression) are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The VA is required to provide a medical examination or obtain an opinion if it is necessary to make a decision on these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues of residuals of a head injury and acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) are being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to errors in the decision-making process, including a failure to consider all diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorders and an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the low back disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied due to his willful misconduct during active service, which precluded him from receiving benefits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted and rendered moot due to the grant of service connection for right ankle disorder in April 2020. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is rated at 70 percent effective November 16, 2012. This rating reflects the severity of his symptoms and impairment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a procedural error in applying the duty to assist provisions. The case will be returned for further action, including obtaining an opinion from a clinician regarding the likely cause of the Veteran's death and the contribution of his psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for hearing loss, PTSD, left ankle scars, Achilles tendonitis, lumbar degenerative disc disease, and headaches due to incomplete examinations. The Veteran's service connection claims are being reviewed again.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, finding that the Veteran's condition is not related to her period of active duty service or a service-connected disability.,For the acquired psychiatric disorder, the Board found that it did not meet the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent prior to November 20, 2017, and in excess of 70 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed before a decision can be made on these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left lower extremity radiculopathy and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete development of records, including federal disability retirement records. The VA must obtain these records and provide a new examination to determine if the Veteran's conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for right-ear hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder) based on in-service noise exposure and reported combat experiences.