Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for HIV, left leg and foot peripheral neuropathy, tinnitus, hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorder, kidney disorder, right arm, left arm, right hand, left hand, right leg, and right foot peripheral neuropathy due to new evidence of service connection being reopened. The VA is instructed to schedule examinations and obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no current disability during or approximate to the appeal period. The claim for a psychiatric disability was also denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.,Service connection cannot be granted because there is no established link between any current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's TBI is granted with a 10 percent evaluation prior to December 16, 2021. An evaluation in excess of 10 percent for TBI from December 16, 2021, and an additional 50 percent evaluation for the acquired psychiatric disability (residual of TBI) are granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for earlier effective dates for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, TDIU, and DEA due to outstanding VA records from the Lincoln Park Vet Center. The Board will attempt to obtain these records.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disability (including major depression with psychotic features) due to the lack of credible evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding the service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The examiner is requested to provide a new opinion considering the Appellant's lay contentions and the diagnosis of schizophrenia in March 1975, within one year of his discharge from service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's reported military sexual trauma and personal assault stressor. The claims are now pending for further development, including obtaining a VA examination with an addendum opinion addressing these issues.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder, is related to his service. His obstructive sleep apnea is proximately due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to a lack of VA examinations. The Veteran's service connection claims are being reviewed again.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete record. The Veteran's claims of service connection for psychiatric, lumbar spine, and left knee conditions are pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a VA opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, right hip disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including MDD and anxiety) due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.,There is no current diagnosis of a right hip disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct or secondary relationship between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional examinations and development are needed to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, is granted.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and migraine headaches are also granted as secondary to service-connected back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asthma, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a back disability due to incomplete STRs and inadequate VA examinations. The claims are also remanded for further development regarding secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further medical examination and review of records, particularly regarding the Veteran's claimed assault during basic training and its relationship to her current psychiatric condition.

The Board denied service connection for psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and schizophrenia, finding that the evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD. The Veteran's claim for left hand disability was also denied.

The Board has remanded three issues: service connection for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and service connection for headaches (as secondary to the acquired psychiatric disorder). The claims are being remanded due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of a direct relationship between any current psychiatric condition and service or service-connected disabilities. For left knee arthritis, ratings were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher than 10 percent prior to August 31, 2021, and on the basis of limitation of flexion after that date.