Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection for hypertension and a psychiatric disability, as well as an increased rating for right knee disability. The Veteran's claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including verifying in-service stressors and obtaining VA examinations to clarify diagnoses and determine etiology.

The Board found that the Veteran's current unspecified depressive disorder was not related to his active-duty service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claims for service connection can be adjudicated. The Veteran needs to provide authorization and VA should request his SSA records, as well as non-VA medical care from Drs. H and E. A VA examination is required for both his claimed acquired mental health disorder (including PTSD and paranoid schizophrenia) and stomach disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service stressor and incomplete VA treatment records. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has determined that readjudication of the claims for service connection for schizophrenia and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) is warranted. However, before addressing the merits of the claims, a remand is necessary to correct an error in the duty to assist that occurred prior to the issuance of the June 2019 SOC. Specifically, another VA examination and medical opinion must be obtained to clarify the nature and etiology of the claimed psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected, with the benefit of doubt given to his claim.,Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are both found to be related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain an adequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including mood disorder and PTSD. The claim will be reviewed again with new medical evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. High cholesterol and psychiatric disorders are denied. The remaining claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, hypertension, respiratory disability, psychiatric disability, back disability, bilateral hand disability, bilateral elbow disability, and bilateral shoulder disability. The evidence does not show current disabilities for any of these conditions.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence sufficient to readjudicate the claims for headaches, stenosis of trachea, psychiatric condition, tinnitus, and stomach condition. The AOJ is required to remand these cases for further action.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted effective from September 12, 2018. The decision found that the evidence showed a factually ascertainable worsening of his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder since December 2008.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, is being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The VA examiner needs to provide an opinion on the relationship between the diagnosed major depressive disorder and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, is being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The VA examiner needs to provide an opinion on the relationship between the diagnosed major depressive disorder and service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of paranoid schizophrenia was denied as VA did not receive a valid application prior to November 17, 2011.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to procedural issues and the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions meet the schedular prerequisite criteria for a TDIU, and her mental and physical disabilities have rendered her unable to obtain or maintain a substantially gainful course of employment. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU from July 26, 2020.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that there was no diagnosis of PTSD and no evidence linking current symptoms to active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of lumbar spine disability, psychiatric disability (to include depression), and heart disability due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.