Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2020

The appeal is granted because the November 2017 Statement of the Case was sent to the incorrect representative, and thus the Veteran's representative filed a timely substantive appeal.

The Board has reopened the service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and bilateral knee disorders due to new evidence received after a previous denial. However, the claims are denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The cases for bilateral hearing loss and psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as a result of exposure to noise during service. The rating for hemorrhoids is increased to 10 percent, effective from February 18, 2019. The acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, depression, anxiety) is rated at 50 percent.

The Veteran contends that his current psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is related to service. The Board finds evidence has been submitted which supports that the Veteran’s sleep apnea may have had its onset during service.,The Veteran also contends that he has insomnia, a back disorder, sciatic nerve pain, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder all related to service. He was exposed to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune.

Your claims for service connection have been dismissed because you did not file a timely Notice of Disagreement on the correct form.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disability is related to his active service, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The issues of secondary service connection for lumbosacral strain, service connection for fibroids, and hypertension are remanded.,An effective date prior to September 30, 2013, for the increase in ratings for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and headaches is denied.

The Board denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders not including PTSD, finding that there was no in-service event associated with the acquired psychiatric disorders. Service connection for PTSD was also denied due to lack of a verified stressor.

Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine disability, but denied for PTSD and other conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD), to include depressive disorder due to in-service stressors. The Veteran's claim is now pending before the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting evidence regarding his claimed exposures and need for further verification. The claims are also inextricably intertwined as a secondary claim for mental disorder is dependent on the outcome of the primary claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder with psychotic features and anxiety disorder not otherwise specified, is etiologically related to his military sexual trauma during basic training. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and acquired psychiatric disability due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's statements regarding their onset. The decision on these issues is pending further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a finding of in-service onset or causation.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent prior to February 13, 2017, and in excess of 50 percent thereafter, for a psychiatric disability, as well as for entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for service-connected psychiatric disability has been dismissed as the Veteran requested a withdrawal of his claim.

The Veteran's sinusitis and acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis and migraines, respectively. He is also granted a 10% disability rating for his service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, as the evidence did not show a nexus to service. The Veteran's in-service symptoms were linked to alcohol abuse and withdrawal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for Tourette's syndrome and an acquired psychiatric disability, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability. The case is being returned for new VA addendum opinions to address whether the Veteran's conditions are related to his active service.