Acquired psychiatric disorder Board decisions

The Veteran's TBI and acquired psychiatric disorder are granted service connection. The cervical spine, lumbar spine, left ankle, and right ankle disorders are remanded for further examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bruxism and DMII, but these claims are still being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD to include major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, finding that the evidence does not support a current diagnosis or etiology of these conditions related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, skeletal arthritis, and erectile dysfunction were also denied as there is no evidence of such conditions during active duty or within one year post-service, nor are they linked to any in-service disease or injury.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for a skin disorder and psychiatric disorders. The Veteran's statements about in-service symptoms and stressful events are considered.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is granted as the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether his current condition was incurred during military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder (with TBI), chronic sinusitis, bilateral tinnitus, and allergic rhinitis, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and consideration, including tinnitus rating, service connection for a leg disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, TDIU, and SMC based on aid and attendance. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed due to insufficient medical opinions and the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development and examination to address the severity of his bilateral knee disabilities, loss of balance, and psychiatric disorder. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has also been raised.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for vertigo is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tonsilitis is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for a temporary total disability rating for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability is denied.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD have been denied. Service connection has been granted for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, but the claim is still pending as it was not fully addressed in the January 2019 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of TBI was denied. The earlier effective date for the 30 percent rating for migraines is granted, and service connection for a psychiatric condition secondary to TBI is granted. However, the claim for an earlier effective date for tinnitus remains pending.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as schizophrenia) and has also granted the underlying claim. The evidence supports that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically schizophrenia, likely began during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, finding that his acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was caused by in-service events and contributed to his suicide.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions and procedural issues. A new secondary service connection opinion is needed based on accurate factual history, including consideration of all Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD and there was no competent medical opinion linking any current psychiatric condition to service.

The Veteran's disability ratings for posttraumatic headaches and traumatic brain injury were restored to their original levels, effective September 1, 2015.

Additional evidence is needed to determine the Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus. The Board requires that federal records and private treatment records be obtained.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (including an eating disorder leading to obesity) may require a VA examination due to his reported sleep habits in service, but more information is needed from the medical records.,Insomnia needs further evaluation as there are no current VA examinations addressing this issue. The Board requires that private treatment records be obtained and a VA examination conducted.,The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) may require a VA examination to determine if it is related to service, including his reported symptoms in service. More information from the medical records is needed.,A bilateral ankle disability needs further evaluation as there are no current VA examinations addressing this issue. The Board requires that private treatment records be obtained and a VA examination conducted.,The Veteran's low back disability may require a VA examination to determine if it is related to service, including his reported injury in service. More information from the medical records is needed.,Sciatica needs further evaluation as there are no current VA examinations addressing this issue. The Board requires that private treatment records be obtained and a VA examination conducted.,The Veteran's headache disability (including migraines) may require a VA examination to determine if it is related to service, including his reported symptoms in service. More information from the medical records is needed.,Residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) needs further evaluation as there are no current VA examinations addressing this issue. The Board requires that private treatment records be obtained and a VA examination conducted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder. The case will be returned for further development and a new medical opinion is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with prior remand instructions, including obtaining psychiatric hospitalization records and stressor verification.