Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for hearing loss, service connection for psychiatric and cognitive disabilities secondary to hearing loss, and TDIU due to his hearing impairment. The claims are being remanded because new examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's disability and opinions are required regarding whether his psychiatric and cognitive issues are related to his hearing loss.

The Board dismissed all service connection claims for various conditions, including shoulder disorders, spine disorders, peripheral neuropathies, and psychiatric disorders, due to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The decision is based on the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and need for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is dismissed as the claim has been mooted by an April 2023 rating decision that granted service connection for depressive disorder due to general medical condition with depressive/anxious features.,Service connection for residuals of a nose injury, to include a deviated septum, is denied because there is no persuasive evidence of current disability or symptoms related to the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent rating for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, but not more. The Board also granted TDIU as of February 19, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected psychiatric disability with traumatic brain injury (TBI) is being remanded due to the submission of new VA treatment records since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, traumatic brain injury with cognitive/memory issues, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a cervical spine condition, radiculopathy of the upper extremities, and a lower back condition. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during or were related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depressive disorder). The remaining issues are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a back disability, hypertension, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction due to ambiguities in medical opinions and inconsistencies with prior examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted.,The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, angina, and a skin condition.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia and unspecified neurocognitive disorder on the basis that these conditions pre-existed service but were aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the merits have been withdrawn. The Board has remanded issues related to heart conditions, acquired psychiatric disorders (including depression), hypertension, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeals for Type II Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertension have been dismissed due to withdrawal. The remaining issues of PTSD, Erectile Dysfunction, Right Hip Disability, Left Hip Disability, Bilateral Retinopathy, and Lumbosacral Strain are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to obesity resulting from service-connected disabilities, including his acquired psychiatric disorder, has been denied.,The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of direct or secondary service connection for the right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, recurrent gastric ulcers, and right shoulder impingement syndrome have been remanded due to insufficient evidence or further evaluation is needed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD as the result of exposure to toxic substances during service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations is granted under the provisions of the PACT Act.,Service connection for bilateral tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU. The claims for increased ratings of left hip conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations, and the claim cannot be established without a current examination or reexamination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to cooperate with scheduling of a VA examination. The case will be returned for further development.