Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service connection for chronic edema of the bilateral lower extremities and initial rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder (mood disorder with anxiety and depression) have been granted. The Veteran has a current diagnosis of chronic edema which is proximately due to his hypertension and type II diabetes mellitus, and he also experiences total occupational and social impairment related to his mood disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and examination, as there are inconsistencies in the medical opinions provided and relevant records have not been obtained.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for TBI, Seizure Disorder, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD (Major Depressive Disorder) due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a Total Disability Evaluation Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to September 25, 2013 is dismissed as there was no evidence of such claim being filed before that date.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and headaches, both secondary to service-connected tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including pancreatic disability, left hand disability, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, kidney disability with renal transplant, skin disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including psychiatric disorders, hip disabilities, shoulder and knee disabilities, ankle disabilities, foot disabilities, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of upper and lower extremities, and sleep apnea due to lack of current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to the appellant's military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right eye condition and its relationship to his service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right ankle disorder, and right hip disorder were denied in a final rating decision. New evidence has been received that supports reopening these claims.

The Board denied service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding no current diagnosis of PTSD and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders and his military service.

The Veteran's heart condition, seizures, bilateral eye disabilities (right and left), and migraines were not found to be related to his service.,However, the Veteran was granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and PTSD.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the remaining issues on appeal. Specifically, efforts are required to obtain missing service treatment records from the Veteran's National Guard service and verify his claimed in-service stressors.,The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the remaining issues on appeal. Specifically, efforts are required to obtain missing service treatment records from the Veteran's National Guard service and verify his claimed in-service stressors.,The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the remaining issues on appeal. Specifically, efforts are required to obtain missing service treatment records from the Veteran's National Guard service and verify his claimed in-service stressors.,,The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the remaining issues on appeal. Specifically, efforts are required to obtain missing service treatment records from the Veteran's National Guard service and verify his claimed in-service stressors.,The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the remaining issues on appeal. Specifically, efforts are required to obtain missing service treatment records from the Veteran's National Guard service and verify his claimed in-service stressors.,The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the remaining issues on appeal. Specifically, efforts are required to obtain missing service treatment records from the Veteran's National Guard service and verify his claimed in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting examinations to assess the Veteran's hearing loss, migraine headaches, PTSD, and left hip disability. The effective date of service connection remains unresolved.

The Board has withdrawn the claim for service connection for asthma and has remanded the claims for residuals of skin melanoma, bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder), and loss of erectile power due to an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for numbness in the bilateral hands and legs, thighs, and feet have been denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,Service connection has also been denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The Veteran did not provide a verified in-service stressor that would support a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for psychiatric/cognitive disability, finding that there was no credible evidence of any psychiatric or cognitive disability during his active duty and concluding that it is not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia and other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms first manifested during service and are related to his military experience.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, respiratory disorders, lung nodule, gastroesophageal reflux symptoms, and irritable bowel syndrome are all granted service connection. The hypertension claim is denied.,Service connection for the acquired psychiatric disorders (PTSD, depression, anxiety disorder, and nightmare disorder) is granted based on in-service stressors and continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is found to be related to his military service as a medic, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar strain, headaches (claimed as PTSD), and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and insufficient examination reports. The claims will be reviewed again with additional evidence and examinations.