Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to her service-connected disabilities, including a right elbow disorder and psychiatric disorders. The Board has determined that further examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability had its onset in service. Service connection is granted for this condition.,Service connection is remanded for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

The Veteran's claims for reopening service connection for tinnitus, psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and skin disorders have been granted. Service connection is also granted for tinnitus and hypertension due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. However, the claim for service connection for sleep apnea remains denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, effective date determinations, and TDIU claim. The specific issues include esophagus disability, heart disability, jaw (mouth/teeth) disability, schizophrenia disorder, left ear hearing loss, deviated nasal septum, TBI, and headaches.

The Board has remanded both issues for further development. For the 1151 claim, an addendum is needed to address whether VA providers failed to diagnose and treat a hernia following the June 2012 robotic prostatectomy. For the PTSD service connection claim, efforts are required to verify the Veteran's reported stressors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and tinnitus have been dismissed.,Readjudication of the claims for service connection for headaches, vertigo (dizziness), sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are warranted.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder was denied, and the effective date for service connection was set at August 1, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities.

The appeal for service connection for a thyroid disorder is dismissed. Service connection for sinusitis, migraine headaches, and left knee disability are granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to burn pits during service. The psychiatric disorder claim is remanded as it involves secondary service connection.

The Veteran's need for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance is denied because his service-connected schizophrenia did not necessitate such assistance, with his nonservice-connected pancreatic cancer being the primary cause.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for undiagnosed Gulf War Illness manifested by a muscle condition, joint condition due to Gulf War (claimed as joints and muscle condition due to gulf war), skin cancer, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The VA must obtain a new addendum medical opinion addressing the relationship between the Veteran's claimed stressors and his psychiatric symptoms.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his back, neck, and acquired psychiatric conditions. The decision is based on the Veteran missing scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Veteran's service connection for ischemic heart disease is granted, and the Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a pituitary tumor, psoriasis, and a headache disability. The Board found that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as addendum opinions on the Veteran's eye condition and psychiatric claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral lower extremity amputation, acquired psychiatric disorder, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to medical complexity. The AOJ is required to obtain additional medical opinions from a qualified independent medical expert regarding the service connection claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion and the need for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and possibly a new examination.