Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to new evidence and a need to consider all submitted records.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including psoriasis, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as memory loss), bilateral hip conditions, and bilateral knee conditions. The decision also mentions a brain tumor claim.

The Board has remanded the claim for further development and an addendum medical opinion to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disability, including Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, was denied because there is no current diagnosis of PTSD or other acquired mental disorder.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss was also denied due to the absence of a current disability. The Veteran does not have right ear hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support earlier effective dates or higher initial ratings.

The Veteran's bilateral blepharospasm has been granted service connection. The Veteran's lumbar strain is denied a rating in excess of 20 percent.,Service connection for a psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, and an increased rating for PTSD are both remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for coronary artery disease and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a lack of adequate examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues and the need for additional examinations. The Veteran's claims for service connection are still pending.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional examination and opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, and acquired psychiatric condition and his service. The issues of service connection are being reconsidered.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The Veteran's hypertension claim is denied due to lack of current medical evidence showing a diagnosis. For PTSD, the Veteran needs to provide more detail about his in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination and opinion to address the Veteran's service connection claims. The claims are currently pending.

The Veteran's service connection for headaches as secondary to his acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. His claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a skin disability, characterized as dissecting cellulitis and hidradenitis suppurativa, is reopened.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left upper extremity, right upper extremity, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy; hepatitis C; dizziness; hypersensitivity to light and noise; diarrhea; fainting disability; sinus disability; bronchitis; GERD; headache disability; hypertension; chronic fatigue syndrome; sleep apnea; erectile dysfunction; chest pain disability; and acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are remanded for the following: obtaining VA treatment records, private treatment records, Social Security Administration records, and completing a TDIU application form; providing adequate VA examinations for sinus, respiratory, GERD, headache, hypertension, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and chest pain disabilities; and providing an examination to determine if any acquired psychiatric disability is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic paranoid schizophrenia was denied in April 1994. After the addition of relevant service records, a March 2010 rating decision granted service connection with an effective date of June 24, 2009. The Board found clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the March 2010 decision, as it incorrectly considered the claim as reopened rather than reconsidered. The Board determined that the correct effective date should be September 20, 1993, based on the original claim submission.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, an acquired psychiatric disability, and an undiagnosed illness manifested by skin disabilities are currently pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety and PTSD, lumbar strain, and tinnitus have been granted. The claim for refractive error has been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric condition, headaches, low back condition, and neck condition due to insufficient evidence in their favor. The Veteran is requested to undergo further examinations and provide additional medical opinions.

The Board has found procedural errors and has ordered the Veteran's private medical records, VA treatment records, and service treatment records to be obtained. The claims for service connection are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is dismissed as they are already receiving a 100% disability rating due to their service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, and have additional service-connected disabilities rated at 60% or more. The issue of TDIU for the period prior to January 18, 2022, is remanded.