Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of TBI was denied. The earlier effective date for the 30 percent rating for migraines is granted, and service connection for a psychiatric condition secondary to TBI is granted. However, the claim for an earlier effective date for tinnitus remains pending.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as schizophrenia) and has also granted the underlying claim. The evidence supports that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically schizophrenia, likely began during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, finding that his acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was caused by in-service events and contributed to his suicide.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions and procedural issues. A new secondary service connection opinion is needed based on accurate factual history, including consideration of all Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD and there was no competent medical opinion linking any current psychiatric condition to service.

The Veteran's disability ratings for posttraumatic headaches and traumatic brain injury were restored to their original levels, effective September 1, 2015.

Additional evidence is needed to determine the Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus. The Board requires that federal records and private treatment records be obtained.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (including an eating disorder leading to obesity) may require a VA examination due to his reported sleep habits in service, but more information is needed from the medical records.,Insomnia needs further evaluation as there are no current VA examinations addressing this issue. The Board requires that private treatment records be obtained and a VA examination conducted.,The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) may require a VA examination to determine if it is related to service, including his reported symptoms in service. More information from the medical records is needed.,A bilateral ankle disability needs further evaluation as there are no current VA examinations addressing this issue. The Board requires that private treatment records be obtained and a VA examination conducted.,The Veteran's low back disability may require a VA examination to determine if it is related to service, including his reported injury in service. More information from the medical records is needed.,Sciatica needs further evaluation as there are no current VA examinations addressing this issue. The Board requires that private treatment records be obtained and a VA examination conducted.,The Veteran's headache disability (including migraines) may require a VA examination to determine if it is related to service, including his reported symptoms in service. More information from the medical records is needed.,Residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) needs further evaluation as there are no current VA examinations addressing this issue. The Board requires that private treatment records be obtained and a VA examination conducted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder. The case will be returned for further development and a new medical opinion is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with prior remand instructions, including obtaining psychiatric hospitalization records and stressor verification.

The petition to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented, allowing the Veteran's claim to be reopened. However, the issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability remains remanded due to a need for further examination and medical opinion.

The Board has vacated the portion of its September 23, 2021 decision that denied an increased rating for TBI and has remanded the case to determine if the Veteran's depression is a residual/complication of his service-connected TBI.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, was previously denied. New and material evidence has been received, reopening the claim. The case is remanded due to the need for a VA examination regarding the etiology of the psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected depressive disorder and anxiety disorder/acquired psychiatric disorder was denied. The Veteran also sought a TDIU prior to January 12, 2019, which the Board granted based on his service-connected upper and lower extremity neuropathies.

The appeals for service connection of hepatitis C, obstructive sleep apnea, headaches, and a rating greater than 10 percent for tinnitus have been dismissed.,The appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder has been granted.

The Board has determined that remand is required for the Veteran's claims of an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of newly added evidence.

The Veteran's application for a special home adaptation grant was denied because he does not have service-connected loss of use of his hands or a permanent and total disability due to residuals of a severe burn injury. The Veteran's asthma is not considered an inhalation injury related to a fire environment, thus not qualifying him for the benefit.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated during service, and thus denied these claims. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD; residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI); right knee disability; and tinnitus have all been denied.,There is no evidence linking the claimed conditions to service or any in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the claims for GERD, stomach condition, left shoulder condition, and acquired psychiatric disability due to new evidence added to the record since the last Statements of the Case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and missing SSA hearing transcript. The issues are inextricably intertwined, so both must be addressed together.