Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Veteran's psychiatric disability was rated at 30 percent prior to February 10, 2012 and at 70 percent prior to April 1, 2020. The Board found the evidence did not warrant a higher rating for any period.,For the period prior to April 1, 2020, the Veteran's psychiatric disability was rated at 70 percent based on occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions due to incomplete records from the Veteran's National Guard service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for a vision condition, epididymitis, and kidney stones due to their withdrawal by the Veteran's representative. The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development and evaluation, including obtaining relevant medical records and determining whether service connection can be established for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lung cancer, ischemic heart disease, bladder cancer and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, insomnia, anxiety) are remanded due to the need for further development regarding exposure to herbicides in Vietnam or Alaska.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and evaluation of the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder, acquired psychiatric disorders (PTSD and MDD), left shoulder disability, right hip disability, cubital tunnel syndrome, and right hamstring disabilities. The issues include determining whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for service connection, evaluating the severity of the disabilities, and considering entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral retinitis pigmentosa and an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and adjustment disorder. The decision is based on insufficient information regarding the nature of these conditions during active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's current disabilities, including chronic headaches and head scars, are related to his in-service head injury. The issues of service connection for residuals of head trauma (including a chronic headache disability), scars of the head, and psychiatric disability have been remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss, and thus service connection for this condition is denied. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, headaches, and sleep apnea are remanded as further medical examination and opinion are needed.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is granted at a 70 percent rating from July 31, 2014. The claim for service connection for urinary incontinence and IBS are remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically bipolar with depression, is granted as service-connected. The claim for TDIU remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric condition was granted, with a current evaluation of 50%.,A TDIU from November 23, 2016, was also granted. The effective date for service connection of the acquired psychiatric condition is set to April 15, 2016.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives, specifically regarding a discussion of the impact of the Veteran's in-service stressor on his current psychiatric diagnosis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the appellant's OSA is aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disability or obesity, which may be a substantial factor in causing his current OSA.

The Board has restored the Veteran's original 70% rating for their psychiatric disability, finding that the reduction from December 1, 2017 was improper and not supported by evidence of improvement.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and memory loss conditions, finding no evidence of such disorders in service or within one year post-service. The Veteran's current symptoms are attributed to non-service-connected factors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to his failure to report to scheduled VA examinations, and the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his claimed conditions and in-service exposures.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to new evidence added to the record since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that there is no evidence of a causal link between his current symptoms and active service.