Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

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Board has dismissed the claims for a bilateral vision disability, diabetes, and obstructive sleep apnea as they were withdrawn by the Claimant with assistance from his attorney.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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and VA treatment records. The claims for an increased rating for chronic gastritis and a TDIU prior to September 15, 2014, are also being remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia, finding that his current diagnosis is related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total evaluation for treatment of his left knee was dismissed as moot due to the already awarded rating. The service connection for high cholesterol was denied, and the acquired psychiatric disability (including chronic pain disorder and depression) was granted.,The Board found that hyperlipidemia is not a ratable disability under VA regulations and thus cannot be service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an opinion regarding service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder. Service connection for a lymph node disorder is denied.

The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits prior to March 18, 2022 is denied due to not meeting the requirements of permanent and total disability. The case is REMANDED as new information on income and unreimbursed medical expenses from March 18, 2022 to present is needed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is reopened, and he is granted a 60% disability rating for Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB). The case of hypertension is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the right ankle disability and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD), finding that the appellant's discharge under other than honorable conditions was not based on willful and persistent misconduct. The appeal is granted in part.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of a skull fracture is denied as there is no evidence of an additional disability. The right eye disability claim is also denied due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to service.,The claims for acquired psychiatric disability and bilateral knee disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder other than posttraumatic stress disorder before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder other than the service-connected IBS, kidney stones and renal insufficiency, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression, anxiety, PTSD, and sleep disorder), migraine headaches, heart disorder, bilateral knee disorder, hypertension, DVT, glaucoma, cholesterol, and fibromyalgia are all remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's service connection claims will be remanded to determine the etiology of his gastrointestinal disorders, kidney stones and renal insufficiency, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression, anxiety, PTSD, and sleep disorder), migraine headaches, heart disorder, bilateral knee disorder, hypertension, DVT, glaucoma, cholesterol, and fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's appeals for initial ratings on GERD and a right shoulder disability, as well as the denials of service connection for alopecia, bronchitis, left elbow disability, right elbow disability, lentigo, sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) have been dismissed due to his withdrawal during a hearing before the undersigned. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) has been granted.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for his acquired psychiatric disability, but the Board finds that he did not submit a timely claim prior to January 30, 2013.,The Veteran sought an earlier effective date for his right lower extremity radiculopathy, and the Board granted this request.