Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to new evidence obtained from the Department of Defense and the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues of PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, right foot condition, left foot condition, and back condition are all being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, PTSD, and acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) are not related to service. The claims for these conditions are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain private treatment records from Dr. Rodriguez Robles, and will need to attempt to obtain these records before proceeding with the service connection claim.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder prior to December 18, 2015 is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder after December 18, 2015 is denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding secondary service connection.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability was reopened on the basis of new and material evidence. The appeal is granted to this extent.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for a lumbar spine disability prior to August 21, 2020 remains denied.,The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated with a separate 10 percent rating since December 15, 2009 due to slight instability. The appeal is denied.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy prior to July 17, 2009 remains denied.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder has been rated with a disability rating in excess of 50 percent since May 20, 2023. The appeal is denied.,The Veteran was granted TDIU effective prior to May 30, 2023.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives and insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to provide the Veteran with proper notice for a scheduled hearing, and because there is insufficient evidence to make a decision on the service connection claim.

The Board has granted a waiver of recovery for an overpayment of VA compensation benefits, finding that the creation of the debt was due to VA's error and that repayment would cause undue hardship. The decision does not address service connection or exposure basis.

The Board has dismissed the appeals as the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal and there is no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran was not provided with a VA examination as required by law.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, a neck disability, diabetes, gout, and hypertension, were denied. The Board found no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and potential miscommunication regarding the in-service stressor. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with a focus on all relevant acquired psychiatric disorders, including 'other unspecified depressive disorder', and the name of his fellow soldier who allegedly shot himself.

The Board has denied service connection for various disabilities, including an acquired psychiatric disability, right foot and left foot disabilities, skin disability of the right leg, right shoulder disability, sleep disability, and hypertension. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left shoulder, right wrist, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including insomnia) due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The AOJ is required to obtain adequate VA medical opinions on these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) and bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence regarding in-service stressors for PTSD and because the Veteran was homeless at the time of the January 2019 letter requesting information about his stressors.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted service connection. The Veteran's lower back condition remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of a pilonidal cyst and scars associated with it has been granted. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea secondary to that disorder, eczema, and low back disability have been remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient notice regarding personal assault evidence and a need for an examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is based on a reported in-service personal assault, which requires specific notice under 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f)(5).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo is denied as he does not have this condition.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, major depression disorder, anxiety disorder, insomnia) is denied. The Veteran submitted opinions from private doctors stating that he has these conditions, but the Board finds their opinions outweighed by other medical evidence of record and insufficient to establish a current diagnosis.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss is denied as there is no in-service noise exposure documented and his STRs do not show any relevant symptoms. The VA examiner found that his diagnosed hearing loss is less likely than not related to service.,Service connection for a back disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right lower extremity nerve disorder, and left lower extremity nerve disorder are denied as the Veteran's STRs do not show any relevant symptoms. The VA examiner found that his diagnosed conditions are less likely than not related to service.,Service connection for a heart disorder (atrial fibrillation, bradycardia) is denied as there is no in-service noise exposure documented and the VA examiners found that his atrial fibrillation is at least as likely as not related to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's STRs show he had a benign heart murmur at entrance to service.,Service connection for bilateral lower extremity edema (right and left) is denied as there is no in-service noise exposure documented and the VA examiners found that his diagnosed conditions are less likely than not related to service.,Service connection for hypertension prior to August 10, 2022 is denied. The Veteran's STRs show he had a benign heart murmur at entrance to service and the VA examiner found that his bradycardia is at least as likely as not related to herbicide exposure.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction prior to August 10, 2022 is denied. There is no in-service noise exposure documented and the Veteran's STRs show he had a benign heart murmur at entrance to service.