Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and left ear hearing loss due to a lack of evidence regarding their onset in service, as well as potential secondary or aggravation relationships with her service-connected tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder as there is no evidence of a diagnosed condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) are granted as service connected.

The Board has granted a TDIU and increased ratings for TMJ, bunionectomy of the left foot, and bunionectomy of the right foot. The decision is based on past-due benefits awarded in the May 2019 rating decision.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for erectile dysfunction and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ. The Board finds that no such earlier effective date is warranted as the earliest possible effective date is January 3, 2022.,The Veteran also seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of a 70 percent rating for his psychiatric disorder. The Board finds that no such earlier effective date is warranted as the effective date assigned by VA was February 11, 2022.

The Board has found that the Veteran had an acquired psychiatric disorder preexisting service. The case is remanded to determine if there was clear and unmistakable evidence of aggravation during service, and for a VA examination to assess whether any current hip disability is related to service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, lower back problem, and bilateral shoulder pain are all found to be related to his service, specifically his time as a paratrooper. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.,Direct service connection for hypertension, CVA, and acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending as further development is needed.,Service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to prostate cancer or HTN is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, has been granted.,Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran is in receipt of a TDIU since November 19, 2013. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.,For the period prior to November 19, 2013, the Veteran's combined disability rating was below the threshold for schedular TDIU consideration.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown to be related to service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or immediately after service. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was also not shown to be related to service.,The Veteran has a current diagnosis of tinnitus but the Board finds that his tinnitus did not have its onset in service and is not etiologically related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Veteran is seeking service connection for this condition and its secondary effects on his skin disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric condition is granted. The Board finds that the evidence of record supports the finding that his diagnosed other trauma and stressor related disorder is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, granting this appeal on a direct basis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, forehead laceration, headaches, and right knee disability due to incomplete development of the claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding exposure and a need for further development, including obtaining relevant Federal records and affording him with a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that there was no evidence of a diagnosis or relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD due to MST, and TDIU are being remanded as the Veteran is currently incarcerated and unable to undergo a VA examination. The case will be returned to the Board only after these issues have been addressed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for flat feet, hepatitis C, residuals of venereal disease (to include herpes), right wrist condition, bilateral hip conditions, erectile dysfunction, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to the need for additional medical records and examination.