Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric disorder and recurrent kidney stones, have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease and lumbosacral strain, along with associated left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, are granted service connection.,The Veteran's left and right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with his lumbar degenerative disc disease and lumbosacral strain are also granted service connection.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD, other than residuals of meningitis to include organic brain disease is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and that the current condition is not related to his service-connected pes planus.,The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD), all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected pes planus.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied as there is no in-service onset or continuity of symptoms within a presumptive period.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for additional VA examinations. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a rating in excess of 20 percent for a back disability, and ratings in excess of 10 percent for right and left knee disabilities due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal prior to decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD; a bilateral eye condition; and hypertension due to potential issues with medical opinions and missing records. The Veteran's stressors will be verified, and further examinations are needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right and left ankle disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The VA examinations are needed to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder with insomnia and PTSD related to MST during service, is granted. The rating for bilateral pes planus remains at 30 percent prior to April 8, 2021, but denied from that date onwards.

The Veteran's appeal of liver damage and migraine headaches service connection claims are dismissed.,Service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include anxiety and depression, is granted. Service connection for sleep apnea is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to unresolved issues, including service connection for a right hip disability and increased ratings for TBI and migraine headaches. The Veteran's TBI residuals are rated 10 percent disabling, while his migraines are currently rated 50 percent disabling.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of their service-connected pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, left knee disability, and right knee disability have been denied. The Veteran was granted a 50 percent evaluation prior to January 30, 2020 for their psychiatric disability.,From January 30, 2020 onwards, the Veteran's claim for an increased rating of their psychiatric disability has not met the criteria.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for tinnitus. However, the claims for other conditions including CTS, psychiatric disorders, DMII, arthritis, kidney disorder, peripheral neuropathy, eye disorder, foot disorder, skin rash, and ED were denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right and left foot disorders, asthma, and a psychiatric disorder have been dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for residuals of a TBI and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD).

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's hepatitis claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis of hepatitis.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his hearing loss began during service or is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,The Veteran's personality disorder and low sex drive claims are withdrawn by the appellant.,The Veteran's balance issue claim is remanded for further examination to determine its etiology.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus claim is remanded as VA records need to be obtained and a medical opinion provided regarding its onset and relationship to service.,The Veteran's hypertension claim is remanded due to the inextricably intertwined nature with his diabetes mellitus claim.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation) claim is withdrawn by the appellant.,The Veteran's narcolepsy claim is remanded for further examination to determine its etiology.,The Veteran's insomnia claim is remanded due to the inextricably intertwined nature with his back and left knee disability claims.,The Veteran's chronic fatigue claim is remanded due to the inextricably intertwined nature with his acquired psychiatric disability (depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation) claim.,The Veteran's back disability claim is remanded for further examination to determine its etiology.,The Veteran's left knee disability claim is remanded for further examination to determine its etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for schizophrenia, finding that no claim was filed prior to April 9, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether asthma was aggravated by service-connected allergic rhinitis and/or psychiatric conditions. The Veteran's representative provided additional medical literature supporting her claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic sinusitis, psychiatric disability, low back disability, right knee disability, and tinnitus, do not render him incapable of securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to July 3, 2017. The Board found that the evidence does not support an exceptional situation preventing gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and bilateral hearing loss due to potential new diagnoses or evidence not previously considered.