Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection of his acquired psychiatric disorder will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed conditions and their relationship to his military service. The VA is directed to attempt verification of non-combat stressors, schedule a psychiatric examination, and obtain medical opinions on hypertension, tension headaches, low back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and left foot disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for blood poisoning, back disability, left shin stress fracture, right shin stress fracture, psychiatric disability, and respiratory disability due to lack of current diagnoses. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted, but his claim for fibromyalgia remains denied.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, and major depressive disorder have been granted. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's mental disorder is rated at 70 percent prior to December 18, 2019, and at 70 percent thereafter. The ratings for the lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy are remanded for further evaluation. TDIU and SMC based on service-connected disabilities are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is found to have clearly and unmistakably preexisted service but no aggravation was found. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also being examined.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and unspecified bipolar disorder, due to the Veteran's in-service military sexual trauma. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether her current psychiatric condition is related to her active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to conflicting evidence and need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's multiple sclerosis.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability was denied an evaluation in excess of 30 percent prior to July 22, 2015.,A 50 percent evaluation for the service-connected psychiatric disability was granted from July 22, 2015 and prior to February 19, 2020.,The Veteran's request for an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for the service-connected psychiatric disability was denied as of February 19, 2020.,A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from June 7, 2017 was granted.

The Board has determined that there was no substantial compliance with the April 2019 remand directives and thus, another remand is required to schedule a VA psychiatric examination for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's mental health disability, specifically anxiety and depression, is now rated at 70 percent disabling. The TDIU claim based on a single service-connected disability (mental health) has been granted.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including arthritis of the hands, knees, and ankles; a back disorder; bilateral knee disorders; erectile dysfunction; breathing and respiratory issues; and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims of service connection for a psychiatric disability, sleep apnea, hypertension, hypothyroidism, left knee disability, and left ankle disability are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD or establish the occurrence of a stressor related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service or caused by his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the cases of headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a right knee disability for further development and adjudication.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of entitlement to an effective date earlier than November 8, 2013, for the award of service connection for right knee strain. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD due to MST) is granted. The issues of rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus and left foot plantar fasciitis, service connection for left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, service connection for left arm bicep tendonitis, service connection for left knee strain, service connection for sinusitis, service connection for sleep apnea, and finding of total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) are all remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD) is denied as he did not have a diagnosed disability prior to or at the time of his death.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension (HTN) and stroke, claimed as secondary to HTN, is remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing whether these conditions are related to herbicide exposure during service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD is also remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing whether this condition is related to HTN or other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as schizophrenia, had its onset in military service. The Board found new and material evidence to reopen his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including statements from the Veteran about in-service stressors and treatment records indicating a diagnosis of PTSD related to Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina.