Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Veteran's psychiatric impairment, including PTSD, is rated at 50 percent prior to September 12, 2014. A higher rating of 70 or 100 percent is denied.

The Veteran's left knee disability, right knee disability, and left foot disability have been granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected low back disability.,Service connection has also been granted for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and Bipolar Disorder) and hypertension. However, these issues are remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the terms of its previous remand instructions. Further remand is necessary to obtain all VA treatment records from 1999 to the present and to verify the Veteran's alleged service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of fracture of the right middle finger is granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder and/or TBI are remanded, as well as the determination regarding the character of discharge from February 1978 to January 1981.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including peripheral neuropathy and arthritis. The cases are now remanded for further development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran has withdrawn his claims for an increased rating and TDIU, resulting in the dismissal of these issues.

The Board has dismissed the service connection claims for hepatitis and psychiatric disability (claimed as depression) due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has remanded both respiratory disorder and psychiatric disorder issues to obtain additional evidence and opinions.

The Veteran's GERD is granted service connection as it was aggravated by aspirin used for his service-connected headaches. The claims for right ankle, bilateral hip disabilities, and acquired psychiatric disability are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder other than Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), finding that there is no evidence of PTSD current during the period on appeal and concluding that the Veteran does not have any other psychiatric diagnosis related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and PTSD due to a lack of evidence verifying the claimed in-service stressors, and because there is no current diagnosis of any psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to missing VA examinations and insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The Board found the Veteran had BHL and remanded for a VA examination to determine its current severity. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder is found to have caused his sleep apnea, and the Board grants service connection for sleep apnea secondary to this condition.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and ratings for various disabilities, finding that the claims were not filed before June 14, 2016.,The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia has been reopened and is now considered on the merits. The Board found new and material evidence in the form of a medical opinion linking the Veteran's psychiatric problems to his time in military service, thus granting the reopening of the claim.

The Veteran's appeal for higher disability ratings for his acquired psychiatric disorder was denied. The VA determined that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 50 percent from April 6, 2016 to April 29, 2020.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders other than PTSD are denied service connection, and his initial disability rating for PTSD is also denied. The Board found that the Veteran's personality disorder pre-existed service and was not superimposed during service, thus denying service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for the psychiatric disability prior to January 28, 2020. The case is remanded for further development regarding employment status and TDIU.

The Veteran's right ankle peroneal tendonitis and other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder (psychiatric disability) have been rated, but the Board has ordered remand for additional development due to missing VA examination records.