Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evidence collection.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, gout, renal failure, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient competent medical evidence.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and BPH are all found to be related to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for frostbite residuals of the bilateral hands, a right arm disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis have been granted. The rating for the lumbosacral strain has also been increased to 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and entitlement to TDIU due to inadequate VA examinations that did not address the Veteran's lay evidence regarding his disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of information in the claims file showing the Veteran was timely notified of the examinations for his psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claim will be further adjudicated after scheduling another VA examination.

The Board granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that his symptoms and diagnosis are consistent with presumptive service connection due to continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's left tibia disability is related to his active-duty service and granted. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, as secondary to service-connected left knee disabilities, is remanded. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeals for higher ratings for bilateral knees (left knee, right knee).,The Veteran's appeal regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and pancreatitis was remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to October 28, 2021, and in excess of 40 percent as of October 28, 2021, for a low back disability is denied. The issues of service connection for a psychiatric disability (schizoaffective disorder) and entitlement to TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, and a remand is needed to obtain medical opinions regarding the nature of his psychiatric disorders and whether they are related to service. The issue of service connection for pancreatitis is also inextricably intertwined with the psychiatric disorder claim.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating for GERD was denied as the evidence did not show that his symptoms more nearly approximated those required for a 30 percent disability rating.,Service connection for stomach disability, to include as secondary to service-connected GERD, was also denied. The Board found that there was no evidence showing that the Veteran's stomach disability had its onset during active duty service or was caused by his service-connected GERD.

The Veteran's claim for a 100 percent disability rating for schizophrenia is granted effective from September 19, 2007. The claims for service connection for colitis and an increased disability rating for lumbosacral disc disease with sacroiliitis are denied due to the Veteran's failure to report for required VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD due to Military Sexual Trauma (MST), finding that all evidence supports a link between his in-service trauma and current mental health conditions.

The Veteran's service connection for ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease) is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service. The issues of entitlement to initial compensable ratings for right great toe injury, dermatitis, bilateral foot disability, gastrointestinal disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded as additional evidence was received prior to certification and transfer to the Board.

The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The appeal is allowed to that extent only, and the case is remanded due to unclear qualifying service in June 2000.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to missing medical records and testimony. The VA will obtain these records and schedule examinations for the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for nerve damage of the right leg, left leg, arthritis of the legs, diabetes mellitus, lymphoma, deviated septum, digestive disability, and hernia disability were all granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for service connection or an increase in rating for most of his conditions.