Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received, but the diabetes and acquired psychiatric disability issues remain unresolved. The Veteran's schizophrenia claim is reopened, but further development is needed as his in-service diagnosis is unclear.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining service personnel records, treatment records, verification of stressors, and examinations to determine if current disabilities are related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, and right foot and left foot disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing a current diagnosis or relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted. The Veteran is also granted a total disability rating from October 1, 2016 for his acquired psychiatric disorder. However, the Veteran's claims for left knee and right knee disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to the evidence being in equipoise.,Other issues related to hearing loss, psychiatric disorders, hip and knee disabilities, foot disabilities, seizure disorder, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, kidney disability, eye disability, and hepatitis are remanded for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and remanded the case for a VA examination regarding a left eye disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression. The Veteran's testimony indicates his symptoms began in-service, but VA records show he received treatment for mental health issues in the late 1980s or early 1990s.

The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for PTSD is denied. The claims for increased ratings for back and right-knee disabilities, as well as the claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) and residuals of TBI are all remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD and diagnosed as bipolar II disorder) is currently rated at 50 percent. The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition, which could impact his TDIU claim.

The appeal of the issue of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is dismissed.,Entitlement to a rating in excess of 70 percent for schizophrenia disorder, schizo-affective type with paranoid features and substance abuse, and PTSD is denied. The case is REMANDED for further action on this issue.,TDIU prior to August 2, 2012, is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and major depressive disorder, is granted. The Board also remanded the claims for higher initial staged ratings for the acquired psychiatric disorder and an earlier effective date of DEA benefits.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to obtain medical records and attempt to connect the Veteran's current conditions with his military service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent prior to October 15, 2018. The Board finds the disability picture shown in the October 2018 VA examination report best represents her disability for this period.,The Veteran has multiple service-connected disabilities that require further evaluation and clarification of their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD, right shoulder, left shoulder, back, neck, and respiratory conditions are denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective May 9, 2012 and SMC at the housebound rate effective December 2, 2013. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to June 9, 2015 remains remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection of a right thumb disability and an acquired psychiatric disability, but has remanded both claims due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, but he was granted a staged initial disability rating of 70 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder prior to June 28, 2023. The Veteran's TMJ dysfunction and bilateral hearing loss are each rated at 20 percent. The skin disorder affecting the feet and hands is not service connected.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic left epididymitis and acquired psychiatric disability, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since August 21, 2020. The Board has granted a TDIU for this period.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including consideration of newly-obtained service records and medical opinions. The appellant's current hearing loss disability does not meet VA criteria for a hearing loss disability. For other conditions, the Board finds that there is no evidence to support their onset in service or relationship to service.

The Veteran's schizophrenia, residual type, with anxiety disorder prior to December 7, 2011 was not productive of occupational and social impairment that would warrant a higher rating than 50 percent.