Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that his current chronic adjustment disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has granted a maximum schedular disability rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's headache disability, effective January 24, 2020. The claims for gastrointestinal disorder other than IBS, skin disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been reopened.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence on file for VA to make a decision on the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's right elbow condition is already service-connected, and there are indications that his post-deployment depression screening points to possible in-service occurrences.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for prostate cancer was granted. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD and a major depressive disorder, as well as for a chronic disability manifested by vertigo/dizziness, were remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for Heart Condition, Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (including PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder), Deep Vein Thrombosis of the right leg, Deep Vein Thrombosis of the left leg, and Sleep Apnea due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric conditions, including PTSD with mood disorder, major depressive disorder, anxiety, and schizophrenia, are rated at 100 percent effective from the date of the award of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury and Acquired Psychiatric Disorder, finding that the conditions are at least as likely as not related to an in-service blast injury.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, has been granted. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have also been granted.,The reopened claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is remanded due to the submission of new evidence.

The Board has dismissed all appeals regarding service connection for various conditions as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than July 26, 2010, for the grant of service connection for a psychiatric disorder was denied. The appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate examination for service connection of a psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's active service records and factual premises need to be accurately incorporated into the opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, left ankle, and right ankle conditions, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder. The VA examinations did not consider relevant evidence from 2010 to 2011, and there are outstanding treatment records that need to be obtained.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and unspecified anxiety is denied. The Board also finds that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea may be related to his service-connected depressive disorder, but more evidence is needed to determine this.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, anxiety disorder, hypertension, skin disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine the current nature of these conditions and their likely etiology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than schizoaffective disorder is denied. The Board has also remanded the issues of earlier effective dates and increased evaluations for GERD and scars, as well as a compensable evaluation for abdominal scars.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability. The claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, back condition, and left knee condition are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has dismissed the claim of service connection for disc desiccation/protrusion as it was granted in a March 2022 rating decision. The right foot disability and acquired psychiatric disability claims are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma from August 10, 2022. Service connection for the Veteran's asthma prior to this date is remanded due to lack of evidence supporting a direct relationship with his military service. The claim for PTSD and IVDS remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, hypothyroidism, and Addison's disease due to conflicting reports of stressors and unclear medical records.