Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric, back, jaw, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, headache disorder (claimed as panic attacks), and sleep apnea. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding his acquired psychiatric disability and the manifestations of dizziness, syncope, and dyspnea. The issues of increased rating for hypertension, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including anxiety and stress disorder, was granted. Service connection is also established for a cervical spine disability.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss remains denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the current rating decision is not final and requires further development to ensure proper consideration of the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis of the left hand are granted as secondary to his service-connected right hand condition.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder not otherwise specified, other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, depressive disorder, and secondary polysubstance use disorder is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for blindness, including light perception only, and left leg condition have been denied. The claim for acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD) is being remanded to obtain more information about the in-service stressor and toxic exposure.,The Veteran's claim for dyspnea has also been remanded to determine if there was an in-service exposure event.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The specific conditions at issue are an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, left knee disability, left hand disability, and liver disorder (claimed as liver transplant).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with schizophrenia, cannabis use disorder, bipolar disorder, and unspecified anxiety disorder was granted effective December 20, 2022. The Board denied a request for an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's claim for an increase in the evaluation of migraine headaches, to include on an extraschedular basis, has been denied.,The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to June 25, 2013 for awards of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and migraine headaches have also been denied. The Board finds that the matter must be remanded as there is a need for a VA examination to clarify the Veteran's current level of disability.,The Veteran's claim for increase in evaluation for unspecified depressive disorder has been remanded, as it depends on the disposition of his TDIU claim and other issues.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability claim was denied as there is no competent evidence of a current diagnosis.,Service connection for asthma was granted based on the persuasive opinion linking it to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to duty-to-assist errors, including obtaining SSA records and private psychiatric treatment records. The appellant's in-service stressor must also be verified.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a psychiatric condition has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim as he passed away during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection of post-traumatic stress disorder, an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, and a skin disability due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied, while his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) was granted.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, finding that the Veteran's current psychiatric symptoms are related to his active service and specifically a false-positive HIV test during military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for mesothelioma is denied.,Service connection granted for glaucoma, psychiatric disability, and respiratory disability. The effective date of the grant of service connection for hypertension is set at June 29, 2021.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including generalized anxiety disorder and acquired schizophrenia (but not posttraumatic stress disorder), is rated at a 30 percent level. This rating is effective as of August 2023.

The Veteran's claim for high cholesterol is denied as it is not a disability eligible for service connection.,The Veteran's claims for right upper, left upper, right lower, and left lower extremity nerve disabilities are remanded due to the need for further development including VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a low back disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, erectile dysfunction, sinus disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, bowel disorder, headaches, enlarged prostate disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. The claim for service connection for a skin disability has been remanded.