Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD due to unverified stressors. The case is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's depressive disorder and TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral lower extremity disability, bilateral eye disability, and bilateral foot disability other than pes planus. The issue of service connection for a psychiatric disorder remains pending.,Service connection was not granted as the evidence did not support a finding that any current disabilities were related to service.

The Veteran's cervical spine, left shoulder, right shoulder, and knee conditions are granted service connection.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inconclusive VA contract examination, requiring a clarification opinion on whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including paranoid schizophrenia, began during service or is causally related to service.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, degenerative arthritis and spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine, and a breathing problem have been dismissed as there is no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected Parkinson's Disease. The claim for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance/housebound is remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is restored to a 30 percent rating effective October 31, 2016. Effective dates for increased ratings for other conditions are denied.

The Veteran's claims for increase in her acquired psychiatric disability and TDIU entitlement are being remanded due to the need to contact her and schedule a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depressive disorder, GAD, and panic disorder is granted. The claims for prostate cancer, back condition, right knee condition, and sleep disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is reopened, and the case is remanded for further development. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability (claimed as bilateral foot pain) is also remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and a left foot disorder due to new evidence received since the November 2014 rating decision. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, and bilateral foot disorder. The Veteran's claims for these conditions were not supported by medical evidence linking the disorders to his military service.,Service connection was also denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD). The Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence to establish that this condition began during or was related to his active duty.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, type II. The case is remanded to determine if the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder and whether his kidney condition is related to his service-connected diabetes.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to a request for a Decision Review Office (DRO) hearing.

Service connection for Peripheral Arterial Disease of the bilateral lower extremities is granted as secondary to service-connected coronary artery disease. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and Obstructive Sleep Apnea are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood and alcohol use disorder) has been reopened. The claims are now granted.,However, the issues of entitlement to initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, service connection for a back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU), and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance are still pending and require further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically failing to provide a VA medical examination for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claims are now pending again.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, including obtaining missing service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of VA examinations and requests for a medical opinion.