Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and headache disorder are granted as service-connected due to their association with his lumbar spine disability.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied, as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, COPD, and a psychiatric disability are all denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities or causation to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation and consideration of his claims related to right knee, left knee (post-surgical intervention), PTSD, and sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the appeal due to incomplete documentation regarding Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. The Veteran may receive SSDI for one or more conditions, but the specific condition(s) is/are unclear.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence. The cases are now remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that there is new and relevant evidence for the claims of service connection for tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and brain trauma. As a result, these issues are being remanded to allow for further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disability is etiologically related to his active service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal for service connection of a psychiatric condition, including panic disorder and adjustment disorder, as secondary to his service-connected right knee disabilities. The decision also denied restoration of the separate rating for ACL tear, right muscle injury due to impermissible pyramiding.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder is granted an initial 70 percent rating, but no higher. Additionally, the Veteran is granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disability to include depression, and vertigo was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and service.,Service connection is not granted as there is no direct evidence linking the current disabilities to active duty service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including anxiety and PTSD, GERD, hypothyroidism, joint pain, a low back condition, and neck sprain are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The VA will seek verification of the Veteran's in-service stressor events.

The Veteran's proposed reductions in ratings for posttraumatic stress disorder, panic disorder with agoraphobia, major depressive disorder, and primary insomnia (psychiatric disorder) from 70 percent to 50 percent, and traumatic brain injury from 40 percent to noncompensable were dismissed as the January 2020 rating decision was a proposed action.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence for readjudicating the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claim is remanded due to incomplete service records and a need for VA examinations.

The Board has vacated the July 2023 decision and remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's appeal is being addressed due to a duty to assist error in obtaining a VA examination regarding his PTSD.

The VA improperly deducted $117.86 in assessment fees from awards of dependency benefits, and the appellant is entitled to have that amount returned. The remaining five $100 assessment fees were properly deducted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a headache disorder are being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for traumatic brain injury and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new evidence received after the final decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee condition, right leg condition, and various radiculopathy conditions due to a failure of the duty to assist in providing adequate VA examinations.,The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no objective medical evidence demonstrating hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection claim for chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis is granted.,Other claims are remanded for further development.