Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the scheduled hearing, thus the case is dismissed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including back disability, neck disability, left knee disability, psychiatric disability, skin disability, respiratory disability (to include asbestosis), tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not meet the regulatory threshold for these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to the Veteran's failure to attend scheduled VA examinations. The issues of service connection for hepatitis C and a psychiatric condition are being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a disorder manifested by high cholesterol has been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal. The Board has remanded issues regarding back disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (other than service-connected persistent depressive disorder), bilateral eye disorder, diabetes mellitus, type II, and hypertension.

The appeal seeking service connection for hypertension prior to August 10, 2022 is dismissed. Service connection for hemorrhoids and a skin disorder are denied. The appeals for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder), colon polyps, and hyperthyroidism are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered, and a VA examination will be scheduled to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's PTSD claim requires a VA examination, and his hearing loss claim needs an addendum opinion from the clinician who provided the November 2018 DBQ.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the appellant's diagnosed psychiatric disability, including PTSD, was incurred during his military service. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is granted.

The Board has found that there are relevant outstanding private treatment records and service records from the Army National Guard of Massachusetts. The Veteran is advised to provide authorization for these records, which will be requested by VA.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and a sleep disorder has been granted. Service connection is also granted for the Veteran's liver condition.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 17, 2009 for the award of TDIU based on service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claim was pending and new evidence received within one year prior to this decision led to a reopening of his claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired mental disorder, finding that there was no injury or disease in service other than PTSD stressor and no diagnosis of PTSD under DSM-5.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and tinnitus due to a lack of nexus opinions addressing his claimed stressors in service. The Veteran is entitled to the combat presumption.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and lack of a clear opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability. The claim will be further developed with an additional VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of verification for the Veteran's claimed stressor during military training. The matter will be re-submitted to verify the attack on her unit by another unit.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence does not support a finding that it was caused by or related to military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, finding that there was no evidence of a verified in-service stressor and insufficient medical opinion linking his current condition to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and failure of duty to assist, specifically regarding the Veteran's ability to work due to his service-connected disabilities. The case will be returned for further evaluation.