Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his presumed in-service herbicide exposure, including Agent Orange. The claims are related and will be considered together.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, cervical spine disability, and acquired psychiatric disability. The Board found that there was no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions regarding incidents in service that could have caused her current disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, as secondary to service-connected bilateral ankle disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding causation and aggravation.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the Board finding that her back disability and psychiatric disorders are related to her military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than depressive disorder, to include PTSD and anxiety disorder, as well as diabetes mellitus (DM), were denied. The Board has remanded both claims due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability has been granted a 50 percent rating, but no higher, for the entire appeal period. The decision is based on symptoms of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric, low back, and neuropathic disabilities due to missing records from his active duty service. The Veteran attributes these conditions to in-service incidents.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for headaches was denied as his headaches did not manifest with characteristic prostrating attacks.,The effective date for the 30 percent rating for headaches is set at December 16, 2015.,The Veteran's initial rating in excess of 50% disabling for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) prior to March 23, 2022 was denied due to lack of evidence of very prostrating and prolonged attacks.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diverticulitis and an acquired psychiatric disorder including reactive depression and depressive disorder, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disability and a higher rating for diabetes mellitus. The Veteran needs to be provided with VA examinations to determine if he meets the criteria for PTSD, and to assess the severity of his diabetes mellitus.

The claim of service connection for PTSD has been reopened, and the appeal is granted to this extent. The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is granted. The Board also remanded the case for a VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of any diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his right hand disability, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and acquired psychiatric disorder claims. The Board requests addendum opinions to address the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for IBS and GERD, but granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim for service connection for IBS was withdrawn by the Veteran or her representative.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the remand requests and has therefore remanded both claims of service connection for a psychiatric disability and TDIU due to a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for coronary artery disease, respiratory condition, diabetes mellitus type II, acquired psychiatric disorder, right hand condition, right wrist condition, and bilateral foot conditions due to inadequate VA examinations and missing service treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including borderline personality disorder, has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of noise exposure or injury during periods of active duty. The appellant's current disabilities are not related to his military service.,Service connection was also denied for an acquired psychiatric disability, as there is no credible evidence showing that the disorder had its onset during a period of active duty. The appellant did not have any treatment for such conditions in service.