Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. His initial rating for bilateral pes planus prior to August 24, 2020, remains at 10 percent; however, a higher rating of 50 percent is assigned from that date onwards.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to non-compliance with prior remands. The AOJ is required to verify if there was a Naval collision involving the Tugboat Oshkosh and a U.S. Navy submarine in May 1973 at Norfolk, Virginia. If unconfirmed, an examination will be arranged to determine if the Veteran has depression disorder and its relationship to PTSD.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) is granted, but the issue of service connection for PTSD remains pending and requires further examination to determine if it is related to his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder due to a lack of credible evidence supporting these conditions as being related to his active duty service.

The Board has denied service connection for keratinization skin disorders of the feet and remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and right foot gout, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding records and the need for nexus opinions regarding his psychiatric disorder, DM, renal disorder, prostate cancer, and ED. The claims are related to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded several claims, including those for hepatitis C and its secondary conditions, as well as the bilateral knee disability and back/neck disabilities. The TDIU claim is also deferred due to being inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition and a syncope condition, finding that these conditions are caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and schizophrenia. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to his failure to appear for VA examinations and because of a recent address change. The claims include issues related to bilateral hearing loss, s/p nasal bone fracture, arm disabilities, carpal tunnel syndrome, left eye disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss due to outstanding records and failure to attend VA examinations.

The Veteran's thoracic back disability and acquired psychiatric disability are denied as there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to service.,There was no in-service stressor for PTSD, and the Veteran failed to provide credible supporting evidence of a non-combat related stressor.

The Board has dismissed the claims due to the death of the appellant, as veterans' claims do not survive their deaths.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, to include other specified trauma or stressor-related disorder with unspecified depressive disorder, is granted a 70% rating for the period prior to April 4, 2022. For the period from April 4, 2022, he is granted a 100% rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, due to military sexual trauma experienced during service. The decision is based on the Veteran's current diagnosis of PTSD and her statements regarding continuity of symptoms.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to inconsistencies in the evidence regarding service connection for left arm disability, including a left elbow disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD).

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to issues related to psychiatric disability and neurocognitive disability, including allegations of in-service stressors. The Veteran is requested to undergo a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his current disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to new evidence obtained by VA, including VA treatment records. The Veteran's back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder are being reviewed again as there is insufficient medical opinion regarding their relationship to service.