Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and increased ratings for Raynaud's syndrome due to a lack of verified in-service stressor events, insufficient medical evidence linking current conditions to service, and failure to meet all criteria for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to his inability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the service-connected disabilities granted in his December 2015 rating decision. The Board finds that a remand is necessary to verify the dates of active-duty service prior to September 23, 2014.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders did not meet the criteria for higher staged initial ratings.,The Veteran's bilateral knee conditions did not meet the criteria for higher staged initial ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as insomnia, is related to his active service and has granted this claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and legal analysis, particularly regarding the Veteran's service in the Army. The case will be returned for further development including obtaining service personnel records from his Army service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, needs to be remanded due to lack of a VA examination. The Veteran was not notified of the scheduled VA examination and must be provided with another one.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, hernia, and sinus disorder have been reopened. Service connection is granted for major depressive disorder.,Secondary service connection is also granted for obstructive sleep apnea due to the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to additional development being required, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his service connection claims and exposure to environmental hazards.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including OSA, a left hand condition, an acquired psychiatric disability, and right and left shoulder conditions. The issues related to these conditions are no longer before the Board.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and pterygium conditions have not been rated as compensable. The Board has found that the evidence does not support a higher rating for these conditions.,The Veteran's left knee, right knee, low back, and lower extremity neurologic disabilities are all remanded for further examination to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied, and his TDIU claim is remanded for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's current left knee disability is related to his active service. The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a left knee injury.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, persistent depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder) is granted as service connected. The claim for TDIU prior to September 14, 2022, is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development and examination, including failure to consider alternative sources of evidence for military sexual trauma (MST) and insufficient nexus opinions. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition is being recharacterized as depression secondary to tinnitus.

The Veteran's service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, is granted. The Board also finds that the Veteran meets the threshold schedular requirement for a TDIU based on his service-connected residuals of cold injury to the bilateral lower extremities.

The Veteran's right and left foot disabilities are not service connected as they existed prior to service. The recurrent sinus disability and psychiatric disability were not shown during active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to the need for new examinations and additional information regarding his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with major depressive disorder, panic attacks, insomnia, general anxiety disorder, and alcohol use disorder, is granted effective April 27, 2010. The earlier effective date for service connection of left and right knee conditions is also granted.