Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and special monthly compensation are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records. The issues include right wrist disability, psychiatric disabilities, erectile dysfunction, and loss of use.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted. The kidney condition claim is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient development and need for a new VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his in-service stressor of being shot at by enemy troops from behind headstones in a nearby cemetery.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to difficulties in scheduling VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PFB. Service connection was granted for right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy.,Service connection was not established for PTSD or schizophrenia due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service.

The appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been dismissed. The appeals for the remaining issues have been REMANDED.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for COPD, hypertension, GERD, CAD, a psychiatric disability, a sinus disability, and a right wrist disability. The remand also includes an inquiry into potential herbicide agent exposure in Korea.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection for headaches, lower extremity arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and a female reproductive disorder are denied. The right wrist disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder claims are remanded.

The Veteran's thyroid disorder and psychiatric disorder are granted as secondary to his service-connected thyroid disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient rationale in the June 2021 decision and conflicting medical opinions. Additional development is needed, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and clarifying medical opinions regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in approximate balance as to whether the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, is related to service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was remanded for additional development. The Board also noted that the claims for diabetes mellitus, heart disability, and Parkinson's disease are pending and may be relevant to his TDIU claim.

The Board has not determined whether the Veteran's PTSD and latent schizophrenia are service-connected, but has found new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims. The decision is mixed as some issues have been granted while others remain denied.

The Veteran's headache disability, including migraines, is granted as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. The acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) and OSA are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for a bilateral lung disability prior to the Board's decision. The claims of service connection for psychiatric, bilateral foot, and hip disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is granted with a 20 percent rating, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, Depressive Disorder, Alcohol Use Disorder) is granted. The issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for nephrolithiasis remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including attempting to verify stressors and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical opinion and need for additional consideration of lay statements.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the impact of the Veteran's left shoulder disability on his ability to work. A new VA examination is needed to assess this.