Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to deficiencies in a previous VA examination. The case is being returned for further development and readjudication.

The Board has determined that the discontinuance of Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) services was improper due to lack of consideration of mitigating circumstances, leading to a grant of the appeal.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but the evidence does not support a finding that his current hearing loss disability is related to his military service.,The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), but the VA examiner found no evidence of such condition during or after service and opined it was more likely due to post-service stressors.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete verification of the Veteran's military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no evidence of any mental health concerns or treatment during service and noting that the first post-service clinical record of any psychiatric treatment was in 1978, which is several years after discharge. The Board concluded that the weight of the evidence does not support the Veteran's claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, a sleep condition, and a heart condition are being remanded. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety) is also being remanded.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and TDIU are being remanded.,,,,

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to unresolved issues regarding his exposure to herbicides and verified in-service stressors. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on statutory housebound status was denied as he did not meet the requirements of having a single service-connected disability rated at 100 percent and additional disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more, which would qualify him for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, to include PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current mental health conditions are related to her military sexual trauma experienced during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining VA and non-VA treatment records, as well as medical opinions regarding the Veteran's current conditions. The service connection claims are not currently decided on their merits.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of hypertension due to new and material evidence. The claims for tuberculosis, left ear hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disability are denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability. The claim for migraine headaches is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates for service connection of right shoulder disability and left upper extremity radiculopathy.,For the entire rating period from July 18, 2018, to April 4, 2018, the Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy was rated at 20 percent; for the initial rating period from April 4, 2018, to present, the left upper extremity radiculopathy was rated at 20 percent. The appeals for increased ratings were dismissed as there is no evidence of moderate incomplete paralysis.,The Veteran's low back degenerative disc disease and spondylosis are service-connected, with a grant of service connection based on continuity of symptomatology since service separation.,Service connection was denied for right foot pes planus, left foot pes planus, right hand disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disorder (insomnia and sleep disturbances), erectile dysfunction, and defective vision in both eyes. Service connection was also denied for a right hip disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, depression, anxiety, and sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's timely substantive appeal was received within the required timeframe, and as a result, the appeal is granted. The effective dates for increased ratings and TDIU are confirmed.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for her acquired psychiatric disorder prior to July 13, 2017 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for such a higher rating.,A 100 percent rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder from January 23, 2015 was granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is granted. The claim for service connection for chronic myeloid leukemia is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining records from McDonnell Douglas Electronics Corporation and attempting to verify the Veteran's participation in covert missions in Southeast Asia. The claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) and diabetes mellitus, Type II, are still pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The case is remanded for further examination to address the issues of obstructive sleep apnea secondary to allergic rhinitis and an acquired psychiatric disorder.