Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, heart disability, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and psychiatric disability due to additional development being necessary.

The Board has remanded multiple service connection claims due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions, as well as the need to obtain outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran's disabilities include musculoskeletal issues, hearing loss, psychiatric disorders, sleep apnea, lung conditions, headaches, heart condition, diabetes mellitus, kidney conditions, eye conditions, peripheral neuropathies, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury, a 70% disability rating for acquired psychiatric disability, and a 50% initial disability rating for migraines have been granted. The claim for a higher rating for migraines has been denied, as well as the claim for a higher rating for right ilioinguinal nerve neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder was granted on June 5, 2018. The Board found that an earlier effective date is not warranted because there is no factually ascertainable increase in severity of the Veteran's condition within one year prior to the date of the claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left kidney nephrectomy, hypertension (to include as secondary to left kidney nephrectomy), an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include adjustment disorder, depression, and anxiety) as secondary to left kidney nephrectomy, and erectile dysfunction have all been denied.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted increased ratings. The back disability is rated at 40 percent from December 29, 2015 to March 30, 2017.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not causally related to his military service.

The Veteran was granted TDIU for the period from January 1, 2017, but not earlier.,For the period from May 8, 2013, to December 31, 2016, the Veteran's employment did not meet the criteria for TDIU as his income exceeded the poverty threshold.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, panic disorder, anxiety, and PTSD, is granted service connection. Service connection for a sleep condition and vision condition are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not experience a TBI event in service and does not have residuals of a TBI. The acquired psychiatric disorder is also denied as there is no evidence to support its onset during or within one year after service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's service connection claims for several disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral knee and foot disabilities, a vision disability, and a low back disability. The claims are being remanded to obtain information about the Veteran's periods of active duty, conduct VA examinations, and determine the current severity of his service-connected left inguinal hernia, torn right hamstring, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal before the Board could make a decision on her claims for increased ratings and TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, psychosis, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), finding that the Veteran had a disease during or within one year of service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD related to military sexual trauma (MST), has been reopened. The Board finds new and material evidence in the form of VAMC treatment records from various VA medical centers, a July 2017 VA examination, and January 2020 lay statements. However, the Veteran's assertions regarding MST are inconsistent, raising doubt about their credibility. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's problems are related to substance abuse rather than PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including acquired psychiatric conditions and musculoskeletal issues. The appeals are pending due to incomplete development of evidence related to stressor verification and examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for TBI, headaches, and a psychiatric disorder due to potential issues with the examination conducted by the VA. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions based on his in-service experiences.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, finding that there was no evidence of a pre-existing condition and that the current psychiatric disability did not begin during or as a result of his military service.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, headaches, left side issues, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder with sleep issues have been denied. The effective dates for the grants of service connection are not established as there is no indication he filed a claim prior to June 6, 2017.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, and residuals of a hemorrhagic cerebral vascular accident (CVA) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired mental disorder was denied due to the lack of evidence of a nexus with his active service. The effective date remains April 9, 2018.