Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas prior to November 16, 2012.,VA found that the Veteran was unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities from October 29, 2009, to November 16, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder, is granted. The issue of service connection for residuals of frostbite is remanded and the Veteran must be afforded a VA examination to determine if his current condition is related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that it was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected asthma.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disorder, depressive disorder with anxious distress, sleep apnea and headaches have been granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to report for a VA examination and needs further medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder is rated at 70 percent from February 10, 2016 to the present. This rating reflects significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability, right shoulder disability, and psychiatric disability (apart from service-connected neurocognitive impairment) due to incomplete medical opinions and lack of a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic lichen planus and an acquired psychiatric disorder, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied it. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, mood disorder, and history of alcohol abuse is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to potential service connection based on in-service exposure. The RO must obtain a VA examination and opinion addressing these issues, considering the Veteran's reported in-service exposures.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar II disorder and polysubstance use disorder (claimed as opioid use disorder), is also being remanded.,A VA opinion is needed regarding whether the Veteran's low back disability and acquired psychiatric disorders are related to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has determined that the VA examination did not adequately comply with the directives of the prior Board remand and thus an additional remand is necessary to determine if the Veteran's claimed stressors could have caused or aggravated his diagnosed psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted, with service connection established and effective from March 5, 2015.,Service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left big toe is granted with an effective date of March 5, 2015. The surgical scar associated with this condition was granted a later effective date of December 20, 2016.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his in-service acoustic trauma and has been granted service connection.,Bilateral ankle degenerative arthritis, MDD (depression), and degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome are all found to have a relationship to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of a higher rating for TBI, service connection for psychiatric impairment as secondary to TBI, and TDIU. The Veteran will need to provide SSA records and undergo new examinations to determine the current severity of her TBI and whether her stomach problems and blurred vision are residuals of her TBI. An opinion is also needed regarding whether her psychological impairment is at least as likely as not proximately due to or aggravated by service-connected TBI.

The Board has determined that there are outstanding private treatment records and VA treatment records that need to be obtained, as well as a VA examination for the Veteran's hearing loss, skin disorder, GERD, and hiatal hernia. The claims for service connection will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of his military personnel records. The Board will consider all submitted evidence, including lay statements from the Veteran, in determining whether service connection is warranted for the claimed conditions.

The Board has granted a 100 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, finding that it results in total occupational and social impairment.