Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) for additional development, including obtaining a vocational assessment and referral to the VA Director of Compensation Service for adjudication under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service clinical records and a need for an addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and consideration of new evidence, including VA treatment records. The right elbow disability claim is remanded due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding its etiology. The psychiatric disorder claim requires readjudication in light of new relevant VA-generated evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims of bilateral hearing loss, increased rating for osteoarthritis, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and service connection for a left wrist disorder due to additional development being needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to May 29, 2013, finding that his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder did not render him unemployable or unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for acquired psychiatric disabilities (PTSD, major depressive disorder, unspecified anxiety state) and neurocognitive disorder (Alzheimer's dementia), finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran's in-service stressors. The appeal for secondary service connection for erectile dysfunction is also remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder may be related to his military service, but needs further examination and evidence before a final decision can be made.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee condition, and left knee condition. The Veteran's prostate cancer was not found to be related to his service or any incident therein.,Service connection was denied for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee condition, and left knee condition due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to verify his service in the Ohio Air National Guard and determine if any periods of deployment were federal service. The claims for service connection will be reconsidered after this verification.

The Veteran's appeal for asthma has been dismissed. The claim of service connection for a bilateral foot disability is reopened, but the claims for other conditions are still pending and will be remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disorders, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder (MDD), all related to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was due to a service-connected disability or a disability of service origin, and remanded for further medical opinion regarding these matters.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder (previously rated as OCD with depressive disorder) has been dismissed because he withdrew the appeal in February 2022.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection of chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) as the evidence did not meet the criteria for an earlier effective date prior to July 25, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia renders him incapable of performing daily activities and requires regular aid and assistance, leading to the grant of special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives and need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his claimed neuropsychiatric disorders, including MS. The DROC will determine if the Veteran was exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and conduct appropriate development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and neck disorders were denied, but new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen these claims. Service connection is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD) was previously denied, but the appeal is granted as her symptoms are related to active-duty service.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for both the low back disorder and psychiatric disorders are inadequate to decide the claims. The Veteran's service records show a history of in-service back problems, and he was diagnosed with anxiety and depression during his active duty. A new examination is required to determine if these conditions are related to service.