Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability was granted a rating of 50 percent from November 15, 2008 to December 9, 2008. Ratings in excess were denied for the periods prior and after this date.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and reopened the claim for a sleep disability to include sleep apnea. The remaining issues have been remanded due to new evidence received since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for IBS and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and MDD due to inadequate VA opinions. Further development is required to comply with the May 2021 remand directives.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including post-traumatic stress disorder and schizoaffective disorder, depressive type; chronic sinus and allergy disability; obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB); right foot and left foot disabilities; right knee and left knee disabilities; and cervical spine disability have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD, and bilateral foot disability (excluding pes planus) are granted as service-connected. The cases of back disability and radiculopathy are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for a left knee condition, left shoulder strain, and bilateral hearing loss. The appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder (other specified anxiety disorder) is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and medical opinions regarding his service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as his claims for increased rating of DDD lumbar spine status post laminectomy and TDIU. The appeals are inextricably intertwined.

The Board dismissed the appeal of service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability. Service connection was granted for asthma, head laceration scar, an acquired psychiatric disability, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Epilepsy and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include as secondary to epilepsy) due to new evidence received since the final April 1980 denial. The Veteran's original claim for a seizure disorder was denied in April 1980, but new evidence raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.,The Board also denied a higher rating for the respiratory disability (asthma with obstructive sleep apnea and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea) prior to May 5, 2015. Beginning May 5, 2015, the Veteran's respiratory disability was rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to February 14, 2019 and a higher rating thereafter is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for intervertebral disk syndrome prior to February 10, 2013 and a higher rating thereafter is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for intervertebral disk syndrome prior to July 25, 2008 is dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disability has been reopened based on new and material evidence.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) is granted.,TDIU from February 14, 2019 is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to outstanding service and private medical records that need to be obtained for a proper evaluation of the Veteran's claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to failure to provide a VA examination and adequate statement of reasons or bases for denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran should be provided with another VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing new VA medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, sinus or nose disability, bilateral foot disability, and back disability. The issues of service connection for these conditions are now pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to missing service treatment records from Fort Bragg, Fort Page, and Fort Gordon. The Veteran reported that he was hospitalized after lockers fell on him at Fort Bragg, treated for a bite from a brown recluse spider at Fort Page, and hospitalized at Fort Gordon.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disorder, back injury, and sleep apnea due to incomplete development of evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions. The claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are being remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including anxiety disorder, has been rated at 100 percent prior to May 17, 2021. He also received special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate for this period.