Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD; sleep disorder; lumbar spine disability; right lower extremity disability; left lower extremity disability; skin disability; right shoulder disability; left shoulder disability; bilateral hearing loss; tinnitus; headaches; and dizziness. The Veteran's period of active service is not established as honorable.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and personality disorder, as there was no evidence of such disorders during or within one year after service. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not related to his military service.,Service connection for a kidney disorder was also denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and reopening of previously denied claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying in-service stressors.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and service connection for OSA. The Veteran's representative argued that his self-medication with alcohol led to the development of both conditions, which may be related to hazing during military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the appeal as he died during its pendency.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating has been assigned. The claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted, but the claim for service connection for MDD is denied.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development due to the submission of new VA treatment records and medical examination results.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral arm numbness, back disorder, and psychiatric disorders due to potential issues with the opinions provided. The Veteran's service connection claims are not granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and schizophrenia with depressive symptoms, is at least as likely as not related to his service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right ear hearing loss, and asthma due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, jammed left shoulder, chronic right elbow disability, chronic left elbow disability, chronic right knee disability, chronic left knee disability, and unspecified joint disease. These claims are now remanded to allow for further development.,The Board also dismissed the claim of entitlement to service connection for diverticulitis.

The Veteran's appeals for a compensable rating for right lateral epicondylitis, service connection for left arm disorder, migraine disorder, left elbow disorder, bilateral metatarsalgia, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder), and thyroid disorder have been dismissed.,The Veteran withdrew her appeals for these specific issues at a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of a left spontaneous pneumothorax as his claim was already granted in a prior rating decision. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and ankylosing spondylitis are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was dismissed as the benefits sought (other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder with mental disorders, anxiety disorders) are now granted in full.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an adequate VA medical opinion, and the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, anxiety, and fatigue is being reviewed again.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral pes planus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted, but the claim is remanded to obtain an examination and opinion regarding its onset during service.

The Veteran is granted an initial 100% disability rating for his acquired psychiatric condition prior to August 19, 2020. The effective date remains the date of claim due to lack of earlier entitlement.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for bilateral hearing loss, atypical chest pain, and kidney pain. The Board has remanded the case to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is related to service.

The Board has granted a 70 percent evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, effective from the date of the August 2020 rating decision on appeal.