Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Veteran's right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is caused by his service-connected lumbar strain.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, was incurred in, or caused by, his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and insomnia, is granted. The claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, as secondary to his right total knee arthroplasty, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran had an acquired psychiatric disorder at the time of his death, and if so, whether it was related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include as secondary to bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran is currently assigned a 50 percent evaluation for bilateral hearing loss which has been effective since April 4, 2017.

The Board has denied service connection for rashes and remanded the issues of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, gout, acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and mood disorder, duodenal ulcer, gastrointestinal disorder, heart disease, diabetes mellitus, type 2 (DMII), and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a chest pain condition, left knee disability (including as secondary to right knee disability), acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and anxiety), and COPD due to additional VA medical records being added to the claims file.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, increased rating for prostate cancer, and total disability based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded several claims, including those for increased evaluations and service connection. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), degenerative disc disease and arthritis, status post C4-C5 laminoplasty, degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, and cervical radiculopathy, upper radicular nerve group, left upper extremity. The latter condition is also granted as secondary to service-connected degenerative disc disease and arthritis, status post C4-C5 laminoplasty.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and lumbar spine disability are granted service connection.,Service connection for the acquired psychiatric disorder is also granted, as it is secondary to his service-connected right knee, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee condition is granted a noncompensable rating, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied, and his claim for an increased rating for TBI residuals (which includes an acquired psychiatric disability) was also denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right foot disability, left foot disability, psychiatric disorder, dental disability, and back disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, is granted. The right shoulder disability case is remanded for further development. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and lack of verification regarding combat incidents in Germany. The Veteran is requested to provide information about his combat experiences during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for prostate cancer, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and a psychiatric disability due to herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran's assertions regarding his service and exposure are sufficient to trigger VA's duty to provide an examination.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to insufficient evidence of a stressor related to the Veteran's service and inability to establish a nexus between his current psychiatric conditions and service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including recurrent major depression and unspecified anxiety disorder, is found to be secondary to his service-connected thoracic spine disability.,His left foot and left great toe disabilities are also found to be secondary to his service-connected thoracic spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to his failure to cooperate and cancel the scheduled examination at his request.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to issues with obtaining and reviewing medical records, as well as needing a VA examination. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.