Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration, including a VA examination for the psychiatric disability and solicitation of a completed VA Form 21-8940 from the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and unspecified schizophrenia and other psychotic disorder, are related to a conceded in-service personal assault. The claim for erectile dysfunction is also remanded as it may be proximately due or aggravated by an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's May 2019 VA Form 10182 constitutes a valid and timely legacy appeal for service connection for left ankle disability, OSA, TMJ, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a headache disability. The case is REMANDED to issue a Statement of the Case on these issues.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bladder and bowel disorders, as well as an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and confirm the Veteran's service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, and as secondary to his bilateral knee disabilities is granted. However, the issue of whether the depression is related to his knee disabilities remains under review.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with prior remands, specifically regarding a psychiatric examination. The Veteran's service records indicate he had disciplinary issues and was referred for a psychological evaluation during his time in service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examination and incomplete record, particularly regarding the Veteran's claims for residuals of a head injury and acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to MST and a back disability. The claims will be reviewed with additional development, including obtaining verification of in-service stressors and conducting VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's psychiatric disorders are secondary to his service-connected back condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete verification of the Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ADT) and inactive duty for training (IDT).

The Board has remanded the case for further development and medical opinions regarding service connection for various conditions, including a thoracolumbar spine disorder, lower extremity pain, psychiatric disorders, hip, and knee issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, a low back disability, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired mental disorder, hypertension, Meniere's disease, and traumatic brain injury as there was no evidence of these conditions in service or a link to service.,The Veteran did not provide sufficient medical evidence to establish that any current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and compliance with proper notice requirements.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee disability, right knee disability, second finger of the left hand disability, and TBI.,Further development is required to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for right hand, left hand, and headache disabilities. The remaining issues of service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address the etiology of the Veteran's epilepsy and whether it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, has been remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the claimed stressors. The Board is seeking additional information from the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD is granted, and the earliest possible effective date is June 4, 1973.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted a rating of 50 percent prior to August 25, 2022 and denied for ratings in excess of 50 percent thereafter.