Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal disability, PTSD, and sleep apnea due to incomplete development of records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded several issues including the right knee rating, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and sleep apnea, and TDIU due to lack of information regarding the severity of the Veteran's conditions and potential secondary service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired mental disorder and for increased ratings for his left, right knee, and right foot disabilities. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for these claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting medical evidence and incomplete development of records related to her claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding records and clarification of her military history, including potential risk factors for hepatitis C.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI residuals and headaches, but has remanded these issues due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the Veteran's failure to report for VA examinations, and additional development is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a sleep disorder (sleep apnea) due to inconsistencies in prior medical opinions and new evidence. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his acquired psychiatric disorder based on a verified stressor, while also alleging that his sleep apnea is secondary to his mental health issues.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and development of the record to determine appropriate ratings for his service-connected right eye disability, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The TDIU claim will also be remanded due to potential changes in effective dates.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining SSA records, scheduling a VA hearing loss examination, verifying reported stressors, and scheduling a psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examinations. The issues include left foot, right foot, back, kidney disease, gastroesophageal and/or gastrointestinal disorder (GERD), gynecological condition, acquired psychiatric disability, anemia, sleep apnea, thyroid disorder, respiratory disorder, hypertension, bone disorder, diabetes mellitus, type II, and peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran's exposure to toxins at Fort McClellan is also under review.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and depression), a right shoulder disability, and a left shoulder disability due to lack of substantial compliance with the March 2023 remand instructions.

The Board has remanded the claims for earlier effective dates for service connection, TDIU, and DEA due to the need to obtain Veteran's treatment records from Lincoln Park Vet Center in Michigan. The records are considered potentially relevant to these issues.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a disability rating of 70 percent throughout the period on appeal, including for TDIU. The issues related to increased ratings and TDIU are all granted.

The appeal for service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), other than migraine headaches is dismissed. Service connection for tinnitus is granted, but the left shoulder disability and cold injuries to bilateral lower extremities are denied.

The Board has dismissed the claims for a bilateral vision disability, diabetes, and obstructive sleep apnea as they were withdrawn by the Claimant with assistance from his attorney.

The Veteran's eczema is granted as service connected. The claims for acquired psychiatric condition, color blindness, and hearing loss of the left ear are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the appeals for some disabilities are remanded due to lack of medical examinations and opinions.

The appeal for service connection for TBI, right knee disability, and right wrist disability is dismissed. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, left ankle disability, and dry eye syndrome are granted.