Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder, shoulder condition, and hypertension. The claims will be further evaluated with additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, combined, rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment from June 17, 2019, to October 6, 2019. The appeal is remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right hip disability, and left hip disability due to a lack of examination. The Veteran is allowed one more opportunity for an examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including depression and anxiety, is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for a headache disability due to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability is also granted.,Service connection for sleep apnea due to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability is also granted.,Service connection for gastrointestinal disability (irritable bowel syndrome) due to exposure to environmental hazards during service is remanded for further development.,Individual unemployability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete opinions and need for additional development regarding obesity, medications used to treat service-connected conditions, and their impact on the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and right knee degenerative arthritis were denied. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his hypertension, bilateral ankle disorders, breathing problems, sleep condition, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and acquired psychiatric conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and neuropathy, and cervical spine disability as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and bronchial asthma due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran failed to report for a VA examination, which was scheduled in July 2022.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent disabling and earlier effective date for service connection due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and feet problems due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to in-service injuries or diseases.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied in a March 2010 rating decision. The claim for an acquired mental health disorder was reopened due to new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the inability to obtain his service treatment records and personnel files. The AOJ is instructed to contact relevant departments and request these records, document all efforts made, and provide the Veteran with an opportunity to submit any additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to September 23, 2013 is denied as the evidence does not show that his service-connected disabilities alone precluded him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for migraine headaches, acquired psychiatric disorder (including sleep disturbances and PTSD), back condition, and left knee strain due to service-connected right knee strain. The claims are being returned for further development including new examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was rated at 50% from January 21, 2020. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension, sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD), a right foot disability, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus type II due to incomplete development. The RO must complete the directives set forth in the July 2022 Board remand.

The Board has remanded the reduction of PTSD rating from 70% to 0%, and the restoration of TDIU due to incomplete development.

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