Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim of service connection for ALS has been granted. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and a back disability remains pending.

The Board has remanded several claims, including service connection for COPD, heart conditions, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, anemia, gallstones, and glaucoma. The Veteran's exposure to asbestos during service as a boiler technician is conceded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, due to military sexual trauma (MST). The evidence is in approximate balance on whether the Veteran's PTSD is related to her MST. As such, the criteria for service connection have been met.

The Veteran's low back disorder is granted service connection as secondary to her service-connected knee disabilities. Her acquired psychiatric condition is granted a 70 percent evaluation, and her right knee disability is granted a 20 percent evaluation.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to procedural errors in obtaining necessary evidence.,Additional medical records, including STRs and treatment records from Tampa General Hospital and Texas General Hospital, need to be obtained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for service connection purposes, and therefore, his claims for bilateral hearing loss, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, TBI, migraine headaches, and psychiatric disorder are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting diagnoses and the need for a VA opinion on direct service connection, as well as verification of claimed stressors involving in-service fighter jet crashes.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional medical examination and review of records, as well as consideration of whether the appellant's discharge was due to insanity at the time of his misconduct.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for both the hearing loss and psychiatric disorder claims, as new examinations are required to determine if there is a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including hearing loss, tinnitus, benign prostatic hypertrophy, prostatitis, hypertension, depression, hypothyroidism, anemia with iron deficiency, sleep apnea, upper and lower peripheral neuropathy, are all denied.,No evidence of in-service injury or disease is found to be related to the Veteran's current conditions.

The Veteran's lower back condition, left and right sciatic nerve conditions, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, depression, anxiety) are all granted.,However, the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending as it requires further examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, previously rated at 50 percent, is now granted a rating of 70 percent effective February 13, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss were denied as there was no evidence of a claim prior to February 24, 2020.,The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss was denied due to the average puretone threshold being at Level II (noncompensable).,Service connection for esophageal disorder and IBS were denied as there is no evidence of a relationship between these conditions and service.,Service connection for a back disability, right shoulder disability, respiratory disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder were granted.

The Veteran is found incompetent to handle her VA funds due to multiple psychiatric symptoms and frequent hospitalizations, despite receiving 100% disability pay.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for further research into his in-service stressor. The AOJ is instructed to obtain missing service treatment and personnel records, as well as SSA medical records. They are also asked to clarify when the helicopter crash occurred and conduct research on relevant unit histories.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is denied as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition.,Service connection for OSA is also denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder likely arose during or as a result of his active service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the cases for further adjudication due to their inextricability with another claim, specifically the cause of death. The dental condition and psychiatric condition claims are being reconsidered.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted a 20 percent rating prior to July 16, 2020 and denied for ratings in excess of 20 percent thereafter. Other issues are remanded for further evaluation.