Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and evaluation due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and psychiatric condition, as well as his TDIU claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric sleep disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, finding that there is no separate and distinct disability from his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and a need for a VA examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability is being reopened, but further development is needed before the merits can be addressed.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, gout/left great toe degenerative arthritis, asthma, and skin disability were denied service connection as there was no evidence of a nexus to his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety disorder NOS, and depressive disorder NOS) are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for depressive disorder, sleep apnea, and growths on the lips and tongue have been granted. The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than a depressive disorder and a generalized anxiety disorder), dental problems with receding gums, cervical spine condition, and lumbar spine condition are still pending.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, cervical spine, lumbar spine (claimed as scoliosis), left knee, and right knee disabilities. The Veteran's claim of deviated septum was also denied.,Service connection was not granted for any of the claimed conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, right knee, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, anxiety, and/or depression), and left shoulder disabilities. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The petition to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for back, knee, shoulder, migraine, and psychiatric disorders is granted. The appeal is allowed to that extent only.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including posttraumatic stress disorder. The claims for special monthly compensation and/or special monthly pension are also being remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability, an acquired psychiatric disability, and additional bilateral lower extremity vascular disabilities and heart disabilities due to VA medical care. The decision also remanded several issues related to these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition and erectile dysfunction as secondary to a service-connected condition are denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of any psychiatric disability, and the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not related to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The cases for pes planus, peripheral neuropathy in all four extremities, and a psychiatric disability (including PTSD) are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings due to additional development being required, including obtaining personnel records and attempting to obtain Reserve service treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is not related to service and therefore denied. The hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion. The cluster headache disability is also remanded.

The appeal to reopen a claim for service connection for Pseudofolliculis Barbae (PFB) is denied. The claims of service connection for kidney/urinary tract infection and an acquired psychiatric condition are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, ADHD, PTSD, adjustment disorder, mood disorder, paranoid schizophrenia, and alcohol abuse. The case is being sent back for further development to address whether any acquired psychiatric disorders are superimposed on personality disorders during service, and if there is clear and unmistakable evidence that the disabilities existed prior to service.

The Veteran's appeals regarding hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver have been dismissed. The appeal for a higher rating for PTSD prior to August 24, 2020 is remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The right knee and throat conditions are remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding their etiology. Service connection for the acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.