Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and a right foot disorder due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions. The Veteran's claim for a right foot disorder is also being remanded because it encompasses multiple conditions, not just toe issues.

The Veteran's right hand entrance and exit stab wound residuals are not rated higher than the current evaluations.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD and diagnosed as unspecified depressive disorder and anxiety is denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD for VA compensation purposes and his acquired psychiatric disability did not originate in service or within one year of separation from service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and consideration of new evidence, including VA examination reports. The issues of service connection for various disabilities remain on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal seeking a rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder impingement syndrome is dismissed.,For the period prior to October 31, 2017 and from April 1, 2019 to March 22, 2022, an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for major depressive disorder with anxious distress (acquired psychiatric disorder) is denied.,For the period from October 31, 2017 to April 1, 2019, a 50 percent rating for acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.,For the period from March 28, 2019, an initial 20 percent rating for lumbar spine condition is granted.,A separate 10 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted from March 17, 2022.,The Veteran's appeals regarding entitlement to service connection for a left knee condition, right shoulder condition, and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives regarding a psychiatric disorder, specifically somatization disorder and schizophrenia. The Veteran needs another VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current diagnoses.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disability, a sleep disorder, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus due to potential new evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's sleep apnea and its relationship to his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran contends that his psychiatric disorder, back, knee, and feet disabilities have caused or aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to lack of evidence corroborating a personal assault during active duty training (ACDUTRA). The appellant's current psychiatric disorders are not shown to be related to his period of ACDUTRA.

The Board has found the VA's attempts to verify the Veteran's claimed stressor inadequate and remanded for further action. The matter is now being returned to the AOJ for another attempt at verifying the stressor.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia. The VA examiner concluded that there is no evidence to support a diagnosis of schizophrenia since 2015 or a diagnosis reasonably related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate this matter as it is no longer relevant.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine without radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The claim for a low back disability is being remanded.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (to include a depressive disorder and/or PTSD) and respiratory disorder (to include COPD and/or emphysema) claims are also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new examination to assess all nonservice-connected disabilities, including mental health conditions and physical injuries.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient review of deck logs from the USS Independence, which could have corroborated the appellant's claimed stressor. The VA is instructed to obtain these records and determine if they can verify the event.

The Board has remanded several service connection and increased rating claims, including those for a back disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, diverticulitis, psychiatric disability, and diabetes mellitus. The effective dates for the grant of service connection are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The case is remanded for a VA examination and further development.

The petition to reopen a claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The appeal is granted to that extent only, with the rating for hypertension denied and the issues of service connection for weakness in the left upper extremity, headaches, confusion, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, nosebleeds, fatigue, chest pains, difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeat and blood in the urine on a secondary basis to hypertension are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for updated medical records and an opinion regarding direct and secondary service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection. The cases for eye disability, psychiatric disability, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy are remanded.