Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder and a 30 percent rating for scar were granted effective November 10, 2022. The Board denied requests for earlier effective dates.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability (paranoid-type schizophrenia) warrants a 100% rating prior to February 9, 2016.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to a pre-decisional error in fulfilling the duty to assist. Specifically, a medical opinion is needed regarding whether the Appellant was insane at the time of his discharge.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted.,Service connection has been established for major depressive disorder, headaches secondary to back impairment and major depressive disorder, and sleep apnea secondary to back impairment and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, asthma, left elbow and forearm disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD) are all being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and medical opinions regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a heart disorder, with presumptive exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded several issues related to peripheral neuropathy and radiculopathy, including the need for additional medical records and clarification of treatment received at Instituto Terapia Fisica (ITF). The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is also referred for a new examination.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and erectile dysfunction has been granted. The Board found that the onset of his psychiatric disorder coincided with his active duty service, and thus granted service connection. Service connection was also granted for erectile dysfunction, but the issue is remanded due to lack of an opinion regarding its relationship to his psychiatric condition.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for major depression and has determined that it was incurred during service. The Veteran's statements and VA examiner's opinion support this finding.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board has determined that additional development is required, including VA examinations and a review of her medical records.

The Board denied service connection for both the cervical spine disorder and the psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for laceration injury, right thumb 3rd proximal interphalangeal joint; service connection for right wrist ganglion cyst; and service connection for a low back condition are remanded. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition is also remanded.

The Board denied entitlement to earlier effective dates for service connection of a psychiatric disorder and obstructive sleep apnea, as the earliest correspondence received by VA was on July 26, 2006.,The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for his obstructive sleep apnea was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, secondary to military personal assault and as related to his service-connected TBI is being remanded due to inadequate examination and medical opinions. The matter will be further developed with a VA examination by a psychiatrist.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for seizures and remanded the issues of service connection for TBI and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are inextricably intertwined with the seizure claim.

The Board has decided that the VA's decision on right ear hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety) needs to be reconsidered due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete verification of stressor events.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for her acquired psychiatric disability and a TDIU are remanded due to incomplete VA records and the need for updated information regarding her income from her wildlife/animal organization.