Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD is dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for left and right knee disorders, both secondary to a service-connected left ankle condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA is denied. His claim for a higher rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depressive disorder, is granted with a 70% disability rating but no higher. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right shoulder disability is also denied. The issue of service connection for a bilateral foot disability remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder are found to be related to service, but the case is remanded for further examination as the Veteran did not appear for a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and hypertension, but the psychiatric disorder claim is remanded as it involves a complex medical issue.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for DIC benefits due to service connection for the cause of death and under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, as the VA medical opinions are inadequate.

The Board dismissed all appeals due to the appellant's request for withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and higher ratings for fibromyalgia and psychiatric disabilities before the Board could make a decision. As such, these appeals are dismissed without prejudice.

The Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, IBS, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a respiratory disorder were denied as there was no evidence of a direct connection to service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to lack of substantial compliance with previous directives. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and lumbosacral or cervical strain are both being reviewed for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD due to MST, is denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of an in-service stressor and the VA examiner opined that any mental health treatment providers likely made a diagnosis in error.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD due to MST, is also denied. The Board found that there was no credible supporting evidence corroborating the alleged MST.

The Veteran's application to reopen claims for PTSD, a low back disorder, and bilateral hearing loss is granted. The claim of service connection for PTSD is reopened due to new evidence submitted since the prior final denial. The claims for a low back disorder and bilateral hearing loss are not reopened as the new evidence does not relate to an unestablished element of the claim.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of TBI, including migraine headaches and PTSD is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.,The Veteran's claim for PTSD is also remanded as it involves a history of service-connected disabilities that may have aggravated his condition.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a neck disability. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration due to errors in applying the standard of aggravation, lack of verification of a claimed stressor for PTSD, and issues related to bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for loss of vision, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension have been dismissed. The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disability, an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), diabetes mellitus, type II, and a gastrointestinal disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for inguinal hernia with surgery, acne with itchy skin and rashes, hair loss with changes, jaw and tooth pain, psychiatric disability (claimed as stress and bizarre recurring dreams), regular illness with abdominal fat, and twitching due to an error in submitting a modernized review system form instead of a legacy appeal form.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia effective March 3, 2008. The appeal regarding the cause of death is being remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, including other specified personality disorder and unspecified depressive disorder, should be remanded due to incomplete records. The AOJ needs to request additional treatment records from the Family Advocacy Program at Hickam AFB and obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claims.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship to service or service-connected conditions.