Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2022

The Board has granted reopening of service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a low back disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. Service connection is now established for these conditions due to the Veteran's exposure to noise during service and continuous symptoms since discharge.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining relevant medical records and adjudicative information from the Social Security Administration.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's tobacco use and her service-connected psychiatric disability, as well as whether COPD was substantially caused by her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a left hip disorder was granted. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded, while the issue of service connection for a left hip disorder is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to their opt-in into the modernized review system.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is dismissed as moot because the grant of service connection for PTSD and alcohol use disorder has resolved this issue.

The Board has remanded the claims due to inadequate reasons and bases for denying service connection, specifically because the Veteran did not have good cause for missing his VA examinations. The case is being returned to the Board for further development.

The Veteran's initial rating for thoracolumbar strain is granted at a 40 percent, but not higher. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.,The Board has remanded the remaining issues of service connection for bilateral hip disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, low back disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, superficial peroneal nerve disability, and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The claim for TDIU is also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for arthritis, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder), asthma, sleep apnea syndrome, and hearing loss. The claims are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective February 12, 2011. The Veteran's eligibility for DEA under Chapter 35 is also granted effective February 12, 2011. The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of a total disability rating is dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues regarding special monthly compensation and financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and missing VA treatment records. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and a separate claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The Board found that there was no credible evidence to support the occurrence of in-service stressors leading to PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for a greater than 20 percent rating for his lumbosacral spine strain with intervertebral disc syndrome and right leg sciatica, and for TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus type II and ischemic heart disease are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents such as Agent Orange. The claim for a psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and schizophrenia, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his in-service experiences. The claims were reopened due to new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for alcohol abuse, a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (schizoaffective disorder), and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The appeal for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is REMANDED.

The Board has granted the application to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The case is remanded for a VA examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder and schizotypal personality disorder, is granted as service connected. Service connection for PTSD is denied. The issues of service connection for IBS, right upper extremity disorder (right shoulder strain), and cervical spine disorder are remanded.