Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of various conditions have been withdrawn and are dismissed.,New evidence has reopened claims for PTSD, lumbar spine disability, congestive heart failure, erectile dysfunction, and kidney disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, as well as providing a VA examination to address his service-connected onychomycosis, left foot disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, and TMJ.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for various conditions, including right knee injury, left knee injury, left side rib pain, PTSD, and amnesia. Additional development is needed to obtain employment records from the U.S. Forest Service and Social Security Administration disability benefits records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing inpatient treatment records from July 2021.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C, and psoriasis. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining claims of service connection for left shoulder disability, eye disability, left wrist disability, asthma, and acquired psychiatric disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board denied the petitions to reopen service connection claims for non-PTSD acquired psychiatric disabilities and PTSD, finding no new and material evidence since previous denials. The appeal was remanded for additional development regarding a left kidney mass.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is reopened, and the case is remanded to obtain a VA examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the STRs do not show any treatment or complaints related to this condition.,Service connection for myocardial infarction is denied because there is no indication that it occurred during active duty, reserve duty, or within one year post-service. The Veteran's STRs are silent on heart problems, and his current diagnosis of a myocardial infarction is not linked to service.,The claim for service connection for PTSD is denied as the Veteran did not have any in-service stressors that were verified by VA and there is no evidence linking his current psychiatric condition to service. The STRs do not show any treatment or diagnoses related to a psychiatric disability.,Service connection for hypertension is denied because there is no indication of hypertension during active duty, and post-service records are negative for this condition. There is also no link between the Veteran's current diagnosis of hypertension and his military service.,The claim for low back disability is remanded as the VA examiner did not consider the Veteran's STRs showing a motor vehicle accident in service that resulted in back pain, nor did they perform any diagnostic testing.,Service connection for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is denied because there are no STRs indicating treatment or complaints related to this condition during active duty. The VA examiner also noted the absence of contemporaneous medical records showing evaluation or treatment for the claimed conditions.,Service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is denied for similar reasons as right knee, with no STRs indicating treatment or complaints related to this condition during active duty and no diagnostic testing performed by the VA examiner.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for his psychiatric disorder has been denied as the symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate examination report, and further investigation is needed to determine if a current psychiatric disorder exists.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and review of records. The issues include hepatitis, depression, anxiety, and a lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, headaches, a sleep disorder, and an alcohol abuse disorder have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (unspecified stress disorder) has been granted.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD due to military sexual trauma (MST), has been reopened and is now pending. The case will be remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the claimed condition.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, needs further development and is therefore remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to insufficient evidence of an in-service stressor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically unspecified schizophrenia disorder, had its initial onset during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for headaches and remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to an inadequate April 2019 VA examination used in denying these claims. The Veteran's attorney requested a medical opinion on remand regarding whether his service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated any acquired psychiatric disability, including considering alcohol abuse disorder.