Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Veteran's flexion contracture of the left fifth digit PIP has been granted an initial compensable rating.,Service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae is granted.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder) is denied.,Service connection for left shoulder strain is dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal on this issue.,Service connection for spinal fusion, left knee strain, status post arthroscopy, hearing loss, right side and hypertension are all remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory disability, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The respiratory disability is found to be due to service, the other conditions are found to be secondary to the service-connected respiratory disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than paranoid schizophrenia before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's left foot disability, left knee disability, and psychiatric disability are inadequate. The claims for service connection are being remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and sleep apnea as secondary to a psychiatric disability due to conflicting evidence regarding the diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and increased ratings for his left knee disability. The remand is due to additional development being necessary.

The Veteran's residuals of multiple surgeries at the San Francisco VAMC, including right shoulder instability and infection, left shoulder instability, and a psychiatric disorder, are denied as not proximately due to VA care.

Service connection for a psychiatric disorder, oropharyngeal cancer, hypertension, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction is denied.,Service connection for gastrointestinal disorder (claimed as acid reflux) and chronic constipation is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a mental disorder, including schizophrenia, has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his hearing loss and acquired mental disorders.

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased ratings due to additional evidence being added to the record.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder. The claims of service connection for hepatitis C and hypertension are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for schizophrenia, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to support the claim.

The Board has remanded both issues of service connection for headaches and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to the need for further development, including additional VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral ear hearing loss, peripheral vestibular disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disability due to issues with the previous decisions and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, previously rated as generalized anxiety disorder and opioid use disorder, is now rated at 50 percent for the entire period on appeal prior to December 3, 2021.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no final decision can be made on the merits of his claims.

The appeals seeking service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding stressor verification and etiology.

The Board has decided to remand three issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities: a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine disability, a rating in excess of 50 percent for acquired psychiatric disability, and a compensable rating for scar, status post L5 microdiskectomy. The decision is based on the need for new VA examinations due to the passage of time since the last evaluations.