Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2022

The Veteran's request for a DRO hearing regarding the denial of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability was accepted as a timely Substantive Appeal. The appeal is granted.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, cervical spine strain, headaches, and hemorrhoids have been granted service connection. The psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder with depression) has not been granted service connection.

The Veteran's child, J.E., was permanently incapable of self-support due to a mental disorder prior to the age of 18. The Board found that J.E.'s condition prevented her from engaging in any employment and she required constant support.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to cooperate with a VA examination and requests for SSA records.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether M.R. was permanently incapable of self-support prior to attaining the age of 18 due to his mental disabilities, including schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. As a result, recognition of M.R. as a 'helpless child' on the basis of permanent incapacity for self-support prior to attaining age 18 is granted.

The Board has decided to remand three of the Veteran's claims: initial rating for a psychiatric disability, initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss, and TDIU. The decision also notes that there may be relevant SSA records not yet associated with the file.

The appeal for service connection for low back pain is dismissed. The appeals for left ankle disability and psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, are remanded.

The Board has dismissed all claims as the Veteran withdrew his appeals in February 2020.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to a request for a DRO hearing. The appeal will be reconsidered after this is scheduled.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current acquired psychiatric disorder that began during his military service, manifested to a compensable degree within one year of separation, or is otherwise related to his service. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete record review. The Veteran must provide additional evidence of her symptoms and treatment, including from Little Company of Mary Hospital.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but granted service connection for a left knee surgical scar. The issue of service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability is being remanded.,Service connection will be granted if the evidence demonstrates that a current disability resulted from an injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for a right shoulder disability is granted. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the merits of the claims.

The Board denied compensation for an acquired psychiatric disorder incurred as a result of a March 2016 impacted cerumen removal due to the absence of evidence showing VA carelessness or negligence.

The Board has remanded the case due to unverified stressors and potential issues with the Veteran's service connection for psychiatric disorders. The VA examiner will need to verify one of the reported stressors, assess whether the in-service disciplinary problems were related to any psychiatric disorder, and determine if substance abuse predated or caused the psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the appellant's unverified military service records. The AOJ is instructed to verify any service and provide the appellant with an opportunity to submit additional evidence supporting his claim.

The Board has found that the AOJ did not substantially comply with the January 2022 remand as to the matter of service connection for disabilities secondary to residuals of right ankle strain. The case is therefore REMANDED for further action.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including dissociative amnesia and a neurocognitive disorder, finding that the evidence did not support the claim as the disorders pre-existed military service and were not aggravated by it.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than schizophrenia (including PTSD), and traumatic brain injury. The low back disability claim was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not clear enough and needs more information. They need to get his Social Security Administration records, which may help them understand why he received disability benefits.