Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2022

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depression, or generalized anxiety disorder. The decision found that there was no diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with VA regulation and that an acquired psychiatric disorder was not manifest in service and is unrelated to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to missing translations of medical records and incomplete VA treatment records. The issues include service connection for a bilateral leg disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a lumbar spine disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of bilateral hearing loss, back disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board dismissed all the claims as they are related to a deceased Veteran.

The Board has dismissed the appeals as service connection was granted for psychiatric disability, headaches, and erectile dysfunction in August 2020 and January 2022.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 27, 2013 for tinnitus is denied as there was no communication prior to that date indicating intent to apply for service connection.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than June 27, 2006 for psychiatric disorder (post-traumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder) is dismissed as a matter of law due to the finality of the April 2007 rating decision awarding service connection and assigning a noncompensable rating.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 21, 2014 for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss is remanded as there was no evidence showing that any increase in disability or additional disability following the May 2011 left long finger trigger release was proximately due to VA's fault.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for multiple actinic keratoses and melanoma is remanded as there was no evidence showing that any increase in disability or additional disability following the May 2011 left long finger trigger release was proximately due to VA's fault.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is remanded as there was no evidence showing that any increase in disability or additional disability following the May 2011 left long finger trigger release was proximately due to VA's fault.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the right knee disability, lumbar strain rating, and psychiatric disorder rating. The Board dismissed these appeals as a result.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and remanded the claim of compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of a back injury due to VA provided compensated work therapy/transitional work experience (CWT/TWE).

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's mental health conditions and their relation to service, as well as the 1151 claim. The VA will need to provide new medical opinions considering all available evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for HIV, legal blindness secondary to HIV, and an acquired mental disorder (including PTSD and depression) secondary to HIV due to additional development being required. The Veteran submitted medical literature suggesting he may have been HIV positive prior to separation from active service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as due to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded both the claim for an increased rating for back disability and the service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to additional consideration of lay evidence.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to missing VA rehabilitation records and the need for updated medical examinations. The administrative decision regarding his claimed traumatic brain injury could impact the TDIU determination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating, and remanded for further examination regarding service connection for PTSD and peripheral vestibular disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include unspecified depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder, is not related to his service. The case is being remanded for further evaluation of the Veteran's claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incongruence between the Veteran's lay statements and the evidence of record. The claims will be further developed with additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for hearing loss, hammertoes, obstructive sleep apnea, psychiatric disorder (other than posttraumatic stress disorder), right knee disorder, right hip disorder, right ankle disorder, left shoulder disorder, neck disorder, and back disorder. The Veteran's fibromyalgia claim is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been withdrawn. The Board has granted a higher rating for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities after January 13, 2021.

The Veteran's appeals for trench foot and tuberculosis have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims.,Service connection has been granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, initially claimed as PTSD or specific phobia. The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnoses of specific phobia are credible and etiologically related to service.,Service connection has also been granted for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, both diagnosed within ten years after Southwest Asia service and presumed due to exposure to particulate matter during service.

The Veteran's bronchitis is granted service connection. The claims for PTSD and PVD are remanded.