Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension under the PACT Act, but remanded other claims due to incomplete development and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to outstanding private medical records and an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of sleep apnea, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, dementia status post closed head injury, rectal laceration requiring a colostomy, amputation of the left lower extremity and disarticulation of the left hip, and spine disability. The Board found that these conditions are all directly related to the Veteran's motorcycle accident in 1993 due to his willful misconduct.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected TBI and acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining new VA examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and osteoarthritis in the left great toe. The stomach disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence of direct service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include unspecified depressive disorder, has been granted. The condition is found to be at least as likely as not related to his obstructive sleep apnea.,A higher rating of 20 percent for left extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) has been granted.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and migraines due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal. The issues of bilateral hand numbness, bilateral feet numbness, and bilateral hand arthritis were remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the January 2016 rating decision was a reconsideration of prior determinations and thus, new and material evidence is not required. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, BPPV, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine disability as secondary to his service-connected bilateral ankles. The remaining issues of increased rating for psychiatric disability, service connection for sleep apnea, and service connection for left hip condition, right hip condition, left knee, and right knee are remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, other than for alcohol and drug use, is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. His PTSD is also granted. The Board has remanded several issues including increased ratings for spine conditions and hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining a VA opinion on the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board finds that additional development must be conducted to confirm the stressor incident reported by the Veteran.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as zero percent (noncompensable) due to the severity of his hearing acuity.,Service connection for a right hand disability was denied because there is no evidence that it originated in service or until years after service.

The Board denied service connection for seborrheic dermatitis with psychogenic excoriation and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other specified anxiety disorders. The Board found no link between the conditions and active service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for a VA examination to determine if his current diagnosed conditions are related to his in-service treatment.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the previous remand directives and has ordered another VA examination to address the Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia and its impact on his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted by the agency of original jurisdiction. The claims for other conditions have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete medical opinions and outstanding records.,The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the respiratory condition, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities.,The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) and secondary service connection claims.,The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical opinions regarding the right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.,The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) and secondary service connection claims.,The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical opinions regarding the right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.,The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) and secondary service connection claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his psychiatric disorder ratings and entitlement to a TDIU prior to May 20, 2011. The AOJ must consider the full scope of the Veteran's claim including periods before February 12, 1996.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion regarding whether the Veteran's psychiatric disability is related to his service-connected bilateral knee disability. The case will be returned for further examination and opinions.