Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to higher ratings for his service-connected coronary artery disease and for service connection for a right shoulder condition and an acquired psychiatric condition. The issues are being remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for chronic maxillary sinusitis is denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence in several areas, including his eye and vision disability, PTSD, acquired psychiatric disorders other than PTSD, obstructive sleep apnea, headache disability, and hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the application to reopen the claim for a back disability has been dismissed. The applications to reopen the claims for sleep apnea and PTSD have been granted. The application to reopen the claim for an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) is also granted. The rating for residuals of fracture of the 4th finger of the right hand remains unchanged.

The Veteran's daughter, C.L., is recognized as a helpless child due to her permanent incapacity for self-support prior to reaching the age of 18. The evidence shows she suffered from multiple psychiatric disorders and was unable to support herself before turning 18.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence was received to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee strain, left knee strain, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, including failing to obtain VA examinations and verify exposure to Agent Orange. The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis may be related to his service, particularly if he was exposed to Agent Orange. His acquired psychiatric disorder is also related to service.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, sleep apnea, and low back condition have been reopened due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The Board finds that his current obstructive sleep apnea is related to service, while his acquired psychiatric disorder and low back condition are not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder due to chronic pain syndrome, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions due to the Veteran's failure to report for VA examinations. The issues of service connection are now pending and will be addressed by the AOJ.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and its relationship to service, particularly his in-service lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability meeting the VA criteria.,The claims for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity are remanded due to incomplete service records and potential inconsistencies in the Veteran's DD Form 214 and Service Personnel Records.,The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as mood swings and/or depression) is remanded due to incomplete service records and potential inconsistencies in the Veteran's DD Form 214 and Service Personnel Records.,The claims for lower back disability and skin disability are remanded due to incomplete service records and potential inconsistencies in the Veteran's DD Form 214 and Service Personnel Records.

The Veteran's claim for an initial increased rating and service connection for a psychiatric disorder with alcohol use disorder is granted, but the effective date prior to July 3, 2014 remains denied.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including bipolar disorder, depression, psychosis, and schizophrenia. The Veteran maintains her symptoms began during active duty, and a private examiner opined it was at least as likely as not related to her service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The case will be returned for further medical evaluation and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a skin disorder, to include psoriasis, was dismissed due to the appellant withdrawing the issue. The appeals for service connection for left knee, right knee, and low back disorders are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and bilateral hearing loss were denied.,No effective date prior to August 13, 2018 was granted as the claim was not received by VA before that date.

Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a neck disability, and several other conditions. The remaining claims are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to the back disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability as secondary to the service-connected disabilities of the back, kidney, and neurogenic bladder.,New evidence was submitted supporting the Veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error regarding SSA records, which were not obtained before the November 2020 rating decision and are outside of the applicable evidentiary windows.