Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2021

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of a back disorder, left knee disorders, right knee disorders, and hair bumps. The appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the Veteran's inability to attend a VA examination. The Veteran is required to undergo another VA examination for his psychiatric disorder claim, including PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination and medical opinion regarding the etiology of any currently demonstrated acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's service in mortuary affairs is considered relevant to his claimed stressors.

The Veteran's associated diabetic neuropathy in both lower extremities is rated at 20 percent, effective April 2, 2012.,The Veteran's acquired mental disorder (paranoid schizophrenia) has been restored to a 30 percent rating from the date of his last payment, February 26, 2009.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted as service-connected.,His hypertension does not warrant a compensable initial disability evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal as he died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for major depressive disorder and a psychiatric disability, finding no evidence to support these claims. The claim for an increased rating for IHD was also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to inadequate development and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for pes planus, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's pre-existing conditions were not aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right ankle, right hip, bilateral shin splints, psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD), left leg, and left foot disabilities due to unresolved development needs.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD and paranoid schizophrenia) is granted. Service connection for paranoid schizophrenia is also granted.

The Veteran's TBI residuals are rated at 30 percent, and he is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for various psychiatric conditions, including PTSD and depression, due to a lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressors actually occurred.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for allergic rhinitis was denied due to failure to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.,Service connection for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders were denied as the evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's current knee disabilities may be related to repeated impacts from parachuting in service, while his acquired psychiatric disorder is not clearly linked to military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of left leg muscle strain and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,Specifically, a new VA examination is required to determine the severity of the Veteran’s left leg muscle strain throughout the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to incomplete personal trauma development, inadequate VA examination for acquired psychiatric disorder, and insufficient opinion regarding sleep disorder.

The Board denied service connection for chronic pain syndrome and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of these conditions under DSM-V. The acquired psychiatric disorder was found to be less likely than not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for issuance of an addendum medical opinion to address whether a psychiatric disorder existed prior to service and if it was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of April 30, 2014 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, back disorder, and psychiatric disorder are remanded.