Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus. The Veteran's claim for a separate disability rating for hallux valgus associated with bilateral pes planus was granted.,Service connection on any basis may only be granted for a current disability. There is no current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, thus service connection is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding personnel records and potential exposure to contaminated water. Additional medical opinions are needed regarding the etiology of his lumbar spine, cervical spine, gastrointestinal disorders, GERD, kidney cancer residuals, and hand tremors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has determined that the claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, service connection for a psychiatric disorder, service connection for sleep apnea, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of left long finger amputation and left ring finger fracture, and TDIU are REMANDED due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, lumbar spine disability, and cervical spine disability due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the relationship between these disabilities and the Veteran's service-connected physical disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD. The case is now REMANDED to obtain additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including right ear hearing loss, hypertension, allergies, heart disability, liver disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include stress/emotional disorder, are remanded due to incomplete information regarding his military service. The AOJ is instructed to obtain clarification of the specific dates and character of the appellant's service, including his Military Master Pay Account (MMPA) with the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS).

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but the evidence does not show a current disability.,The Veteran seeks service connection for erectile dysfunction and an acquired psychiatric disability, both of which are secondary to his service-connected left shoulder, right shoulder, migraine headache, sleep apnea, and sinusitis disabilities. The Board finds remand necessary as adequate medical opinions are needed on the nature and etiology of these conditions.,The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but the evidence does not show a current disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's motion for an earlier effective date prior to July 8, 1968, for the grant of service connection for schizophrenia. The issues related to PTSD were not addressed in this decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C, chronic kidney disease, liver condition (claimed as cirrhosis and liver cancer), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as bipolar disorder and depression) due to insufficient evidence addressing service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his claims of service connection for various disabilities, including psychiatric conditions, fatigue, joint pain, cardiovascular issues, heart disability, low back disability, tingling sensations, right knee disability, and hypogonadism. The examination will consider exposure to nerve agents during combat in Iraq.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the onset and nature of the Veteran's condition during active service.

The Veteran's hypertension, kidney cancer, heart disorder (coronary atherosclerosis, heart attack, coronary artery disease), peripheral artery disease, acquired psychiatric disorder (chemo brain), retinopathy, penile condition, and lung disorder have been granted service connection. The effective date for these grants is October 13, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, lumbar spine disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to a lack of medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and there is no credible evidence linking his symptoms to an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for nerve entrapment as a residual of hernia surgery was denied, and his appeals for service connection for left knee disorder, lumbar spine disorder, right lower extremity sciatica, and acquired psychiatric disorder were remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for gastric ulcer, seizures, mental disorder (anxiety and memory loss), and residuals of injury of the liver (liver abscess) as there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and service.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and insufficient continuity of symptoms post-service to establish a current disability.,The Board also denied service connection for a neck disorder, concluding that the Veteran's current disabilities are not related to active service due to lack of chronicity during service or within one year after separation.,Service connection was further denied for a psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), as there is no evidence supporting a diagnosis of PTSD and the Board found the Veteran's anxiety disorder unrelated to service.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for a right foot and psychiatric disabilities due to their grant in prior rating decisions. The remaining issues - neck, right upper extremity radiculopathy, headache, and right knee disabilities - are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected seizures and acquired psychiatric disorder have rendered him in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person since February 19, 2018. The claim for a TDIU is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a 100% rating for seizures. SMC based on aid and attendance from February 19, 2018, is granted.