Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lumbar disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to the lumbar disorder. The VA must obtain additional medical opinions regarding the pre-service existence of the lumbar disorder and its relationship to service.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU beginning November 2, 2020. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to November 2, 2020, on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left knee disability, back disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to outstanding service records and missing Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The Veteran is also asked to provide authorization for release of private medical records from Boston Medical Center.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the issues of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral wrist disorder and gastrointestinal disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability has been granted.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities are associated with his service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve is granted a 40 percent evaluation beginning February 20, 2014.,The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety, depressed mood and insomnia disorder (psychiatric disability) is granted a 50 percent evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension, rectal cancer, a low back disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability due to new evidence received since the last denial. The claims are reopened as there is now sufficient evidence of association between the conditions and herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and psychiatric disability have been granted. The appeals to reopen these claims are also granted.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence for service connection of PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The Veteran's testimony indicates a potential medical nexus between in-service experiences and current symptoms, but further examination is needed.

The Veteran's appeals for right knee disorder, left shoulder strain, bilateral pes planus, and left foot hallux valgus have been dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to greater than 50 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder, service connection for alcohol abuse, hypertension secondary to psychiatric disorder, and degenerative joint disease of ankles.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and additional evidence needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, due to a lack of credible supporting evidence regarding in-service stressors and the absence of a causal relationship between his current condition and service.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was documented at the time of his initial enlistment, and there is no evidence indicating that it underwent an aggravation during service. The Board finds that the condition has not been permanently aggravated beyond its natural progression by his service.,Service connection for a low back disorder is remanded due to the need for clarification on whether the in-service complaint had been considered.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was diagnosed at least several years earlier than during service, and this matter must be remanded for an addendum opinion clarifying that the complete factual record has been considered.,Service connection for a sinus disorder is remanded due to the need for clarification on whether the Veteran had such a condition during the appeal period that resolved prior to the more recent examinations.,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis was not diagnosed at the time of the VA examination, and this matter must be remanded for an addendum opinion clarifying whether he had such a condition during the appeal period.,Service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome is remanded due to the need for clarification on whether the Veteran's condition is proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected left wrist disability.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, must be remanded due to the need for an appropriate records search and examination regarding a verified in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the claims for gastrointestinal disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete records from the Veteran's private physician. The gastrointestinal claim is related to Crohn's Disease, while the psychiatric claim may be secondary to the gastrointestinal condition.

The Board denied service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The left lower extremity radiculopathy was not found to be related to the Veteran's lumbosacral strain, while his acquired psychiatric disorder was linked to events during active military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus and migraines have been granted service connection.,Service connection for migraines has also been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a current disability of migraines that started in service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a TBI, headache disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the failure to provide adequate VA examinations. The Board finds that rescheduling is necessary as the Veteran missed his scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for various conditions, including soft palate angioma, blurred vision, bilateral hearing loss, dizziness with nausea, sleep apnea, nerve damage, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision is based on the need for additional medical opinions regarding the preexistence of these conditions in service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hyperlipidemia was dismissed. The claims of service connection for left and right ankle conditions, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, obesity, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depressive disorder, eating disorder, and sleeping disturbances), right knee osteoarthritis and patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee osteoarthritis and patellofemoral pain syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, right hip pain, left hip pain, neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and neuropathy of the right lower extremity have been reopened.