Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including alcohol use disorder and other stress related disorder, are service-connected as they were caused by his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities, and further development is required.

The Veteran's claims for cysts in both feet, arthritis in both feet, and psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder) have been denied. The Board found no current diagnoses of these conditions during the pendency of the claims. Service connection has been granted for a psychiatric disorder but not for cysts or arthritis in both feet. The Veteran's low back disability and upper back disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder based on in-service personal assault, finding no evidence of a current diagnosis or link to service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, was granted service connection. The right hip degenerative joint disease and related issues were denied with some evaluations being remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depressive disorders, is granted. The Board finds the VA examiner's opinions along with Dr. A.A.'s positive nexus opinion persuasive in granting service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The issues of entitlement to a higher rating for right knee strain, as well as service connection for lower back condition, cervical arthritis with spondylotic changes, and left arm neuropathy are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and failure to consider all relevant evidence, including the Veteran's statements about her in-service personal assault.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral heel spurs, and a right knee disability due to new and material evidence. The claims are granted.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings for lumbar strain and right shoulder strain, as well as service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than unspecified anxiety disorder (claimed as depression). The Veteran withdrew his appeal in writing before the decision was made.

The Veteran's migraine headaches, memory loss, epilepsy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including paranoid schizophrenia and polysubstance abuse disorder) are found to be secondary to his service-connected traumatic brain injury. Service connection for these residuals is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for prostate cancer, PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), and hypertension are all granted. However, the claim for hypertension is remanded to determine if it is related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine is granted. The claims for service connection for a mental disorder and right shoulder condition are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information provided by the Veteran regarding his in-service stressor. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to verify the reported stressor and provide additional development as directed.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to missed VA examinations and issues related to homelessness. The Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hand disability, and nonservice-connected pension are being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete examinations and a failure to apply the correct standard in determining whether pre-existing conditions were aggravated by service. Additional examination is needed to determine the etiology of the psychiatric disability and left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA medical opinion addressing the Veteran's theory of causation or aggravation, and for obtaining such an opinion.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of psychiatric disorder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and neck strain disability due to the Veteran's death during the appeal process.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition had its onset in active service and resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran requested an earlier effective date for a 100% rating for his service-connected psychiatric disability, but the Board denied this request as there was no evidence of a 'factually ascertainable' increase in disability prior to November 29, 2021.

The Board has granted entitlement to a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation. The claim of an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for Parkinson's disease is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.