Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including chronic gout, hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as depression), diabetes mellitus, migraine headaches, a sleep disorder with insomnia, tinnitus, and a back disability. The reasons include the need to verify the appellant's claimed service, particularly whether he served in line of duty during any periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disability, bilateral upper extremity neurological impairment, back disability, allergic rhinitis, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and/or an eating disorder), and cervical dysplasia with HPV. The reasons include lack of continuity of symptomatology since service, no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions, and the absence of positive nexus opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for a low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to issues with character of discharge and new evidence submission.

The Veteran's tinnitus and acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder with secondary alcohol use disorder, are granted. Bilateral hearing loss and a back disability remain pending as they were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the Veteran's in-service experiences and his current condition.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including right knee disability, low back disability, PTSD, substance abuse, liver disability, and heart disability. The Board has determined that these issues are remanded due to the need for further development or clarification.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbosacral strain and an acquired psychiatric disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right knee and left shoulder conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since January 31, 2016. The Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his claimed joint pain, GERD, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are being remanded because of potential Gulf War Syndrome exposure.

The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's statements regarding abuse during service are considered in determining the cause of his current mental health conditions.

Your appeal has been dismissed as you have opted into the modernized review system.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and evaluation, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD is granted.,The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for depression is granted.,The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for degenerative joint disease, cervical spine is granted.,The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome, lumbar spine is granted.,The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension is denied.,The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (which includes PTSD and depression) is granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left side numbness, epilepsy, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are being remanded to obtain relevant medical opinions and to verify in-service stressors.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a recurrent lumbar spine disability, recurrent skin disability (PFB), recurrent sleep disability (obstructive sleep apnea), diabetes mellitus, and testicular disability (testicular cancer) as well as his psychiatric disability. The VA is instructed to obtain service records and verify the Veteran's periods of active duty, active duty for training, and inactive duty for training with the Navy Reserve.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including seeking opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disabilities and their relationship to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records from his military service and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claim for hearing loss and has remanded his claim for PTSD. The case is now pending for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD and depression, finding that the Veteran's stressors could not be verified. The dental disability claim is remanded due to lack of compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but the appeals are remanded for further development and rating actions.