Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, respiratory condition, lower back condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD) due to a failure to verify all periods of active, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA service. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, but denied service connection for chronic pain and an acquired mental disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for IBS and an acquired psychiatric disorder are denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of these conditions, and the evidence does not support a finding that they began during or were related to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder to include major depressive disorder and/or PTSD are denied. The TDIU claim is also denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination as they are not fully developed.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his in-service stressor of witnessing deceased service members being loaded into aircraft.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and related secondary conditions. The issues have been returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to unclear and conflicting VA examination reports regarding the severity of his service-connected peripheral neuropathy. The psychiatric disability claim is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression. The nerve disorder of the right hand is denied as not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial rating for various disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his exposure to toxic substances (TERA) and delayed onset hearing loss.

The Board has dismissed the claims for increased ratings for Erectile Dysfunction and Hypertension, and has remanded the issues of a rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's hepatitis C claim is reopened and the Board finds it at least as likely as not related to drug use during service. The back disorder, GERD, trigger fingers in both hands, right shoulder disorder, hyperlipidemia, and respiratory disorder (likely COPD) claims are all remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claim for residuals of injury to the jaw and mouth, including a dental disorder, is reopened and the Board finds it at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury. The acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (likely referring to PTSD), hypertension, and right shoulder disorder claims are all remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for restoration of competency to handle VA benefits due to his mental incapacity, finding that he lacks the mental capacity to manage his finances.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to readjudicate his claims for service connection for psychiatric disability (to include PTSD), type II diabetes mellitus, and back disability based on new evidence. However, service connection is denied for all three conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as nervous condition with anxiety reaction, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable error in the January 1973 rating decision.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to his service-connected prostate cancer. The decision is based on evidence showing that the Veteran's psychiatric condition was caused or aggravated by his prostate cancer.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is rated at the highest possible level (70 percent), and no higher rating is granted.,His gall bladder disability is currently rated at 10 percent, with no evidence of severe symptoms.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, and a new VA examination is needed.