Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Veteran's bilateral talipes equinovarus and club foot were found to have been aggravated by his military service, warranting service connection.,Secondary service connection was granted for an acquired psychiatric disability as secondary to the Veteran's bilateral talipes equinovarus.

The Board has determined that there is not substantial compliance with its previous remand directives and the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, sleep apnea, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, finding that there was no evidence of such disease during or within one year after service and that any current condition is not related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including depression and a right thumb injury, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including unspecified depressive disorder), symptoms attributable to alcoholism, left and right knee conditions, sleep disorder, colloid cyst, and migraines. The Veteran's statements and medical records are considered in determining the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen her service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder because the new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's appeals for pseudofolliculitis barbae, right pelvic bone disorder, and neck disorder have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hand disorder has been reopened due to new evidence submitted since the August 2014 rating decision.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including a back disability, right and left knee disorders, and a psychiatric disorder. The VA will need to provide additional medical opinions to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for gout as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes and hypertension, as well as his obesity subsequent to a service-connected psychiatric condition.

The Veteran was granted TDIU from August 19, 2009 to March 24, 2017 due to his service-connected psychiatric disability and other conditions preventing him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted the reopening of the Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a chronic headache disorder, finding that new evidence supports these claims. The acquired psychiatric disorder is deemed to be due to active service, while the chronic headache disorder is also found to have begun during service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, is denied as compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to lack of evidence showing VA carelessness or negligence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorders are at least as likely as not related to his service, and thus grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, alone, warranted entitlement to a TDIU since August 17, 2017. The evidence demonstrated severe mental impairments that precluded the Veteran from securing and following all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia (also claimed as a substance abuse disorder), has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate this claim.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service connected, and he has a current diagnosis of hypertension. The gastrointestinal condition (IBS and GERD) and psychiatric disability are not service connected. Right knee, left knee, right shoulder, low back, and left middle finger conditions remain on appeal.,Further evaluations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's gastrointestinal condition, psychiatric disability, and lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a low back condition, bilateral knee and foot conditions, left ear hearing loss, an eye condition (dry eye syndrome), a skin condition (psoriasis), a thyroid condition, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left parapharyngeal space mass, a salivary gland disorder, and bilateral tenosynovitis of the wrists.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are currently pending due to remand orders.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on four different conditions (acquired psychiatric disorder, heart condition, liver condition, and thyroid condition) have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.