Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to June 27, 2019, for the increase of his psychiatric disability rating to over 50 percent or 100 percent was denied. The Board also granted a TDIU from April 29, 2016, to June 26, 2019.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder and his sleep apnea. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that new evidence received since the last decision supports readjudicating the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, concussions, and right ear hearing loss. The claims are now granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, is causally related to his active duty service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The VA rating decision of June 24, 2008 granted service connection for paranoid schizophrenia and assigned a 70 percent initial rating effective April 9, 2003. The Veteran's appeal to have an earlier effective date was denied as the claim had not been previously adjudicated.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for prostate cancer and various musculoskeletal and psychiatric disabilities. The issues of service connection for left hand carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral shoulder disability, acquired psychiatric disability (including anxiety and/or PTSD), sleep disability (including apnea), left hip disability, right hip disability, left leg disability, and right leg disability are all remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chloracne, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and dysthymia (claimed as depression) have been denied. The evidence does not support a finding of new and material evidence to reopen any of these claims.,Service connection was denied on the basis that there is no current diagnosis of the claimed conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of anxiety disorder with adjustment issues, aggression (acquired psychiatric disorder), left ear hearing loss, and right eye injury. The appeal for service connection of a back disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous directives and the need for updated VA medical records. A new examination is required to determine if the Veteran's chronic paranoid schizophrenia manifested during service or within one year after discharge.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to a psychiatric disorder. The case requires additional evidence, including an expert medical opinion, to determine if the Veteran currently suffers from a psychiatric disorder related to his military service.

The Board has withdrawn the issue of entitlement to service connection for any acquired psychiatric disorder and has remanded the issue of service connection for bronchial asthma.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability and a rating in excess of 10 percent for right wrist fracture are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his mental health conditions and the severity of his right wrist disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been withdrawn.,Claims to reopen previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and diabetes mellitus type II have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection for high blood pressure and headaches have not been established based on the available evidence.,The Veteran's surgical scar, dorsal left second metatarsophalangeal joint s/p osteotomy left foot has a compensable disability rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected psychiatric disorder and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease from December 5, 2016 due to outstanding VA medical records not being available in the claims file.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain relevant medical records, as there is no indication that these records are pertinent to service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his ingrown toenails and acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as a need for an addendum opinion on secondary service connection for a left ankle disability. The AOJ should readjudicate the claims after all completed development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete evidence. The claims will be further developed to obtain additional information about the Veteran's in-service stressors, as well as treatment records and private medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his acquired psychiatric condition does not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent.,The Veteran's appeal for TDIU is also denied due to the presence of other service-connected disabilities and non-service-connected conditions that prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's neurocognitive disorder due to traumatic brain injuries is granted service connection, while the claim for an acquired psychiatric disability remains pending and remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD with major depressive disorder is dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral shoulder disability, left ankle disability, left hand disability, right elbow disability, and neck/upper back disability.