Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the Veteran's paranoid schizophrenia is causally or etiologically due to service, and therefore grants the claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2, a menstrual disorder, a right buttock boil, and an acquired psychiatric disability other than paranoid schizophrenia.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence of current disabilities. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to her active duty service.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss was also denied due to the lack of evidence showing a current disability that meets VA criteria.

The Board has decided the case must be returned for further development due to insufficient medical records and a need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck disability, low back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and traumatic brain injury due to incomplete opinions from previous VA examiners. The claims are now pending with the AOJ.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his tinea cruris and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) claims, including obtaining medical opinions on the effectiveness of his treatment and investigating the claimed stressors.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to concerns about the competence of the VA examiners who provided opinions related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Veteran's heart disability, neurobehavioral effects (including stroke), and acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression) are all being reviewed.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD was granted. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, namely PTSD, is also granted. The initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for schizophrenia with paranoia and a rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder, as well as the claim for TDIU prior to December 31, 2017. The Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating or an effective date earlier than June 11, 2013.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the issue of whether the character of the Appellant's discharge constitutes a bar to receipt of VA benefits. The appeal is granted, but the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and dental issues are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied. The claim for service connection for skin conditions under the right and left arms, as well as on the face and neck, is granted.

The Veteran's claims for acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee and right knee disabilities, and left ankle disability have been reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims of service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, headaches, a psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and depression), and erectile dysfunction.,Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's right hand weakness and left hand weakness, as well as his acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and anxiety), are not service-connected.,However, the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that there was no evidence to support a diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder due to military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to the need for more information and records. The Veteran's service connection claims are not granted as there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability, obstructive sleep apnea, or any other claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the service connection claims for various disabilities, including hydrocephalus and its related conditions. The remand will allow for further examination and opinion regarding whether any of these conditions were caused or aggravated by events during active service.

The Veteran's lumbar strain is currently rated as noncompensable prior to August 12, 2019, and evaluated as 10 percent disabled thereafter. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left knee condition, UTIs, and an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to service-connected lumbar strain.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a delay in receiving the September 2021 Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The Veteran and his representative are given an opportunity to respond before the appeal is recertified.