Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral pes planus was withdrawn. The appeals for a higher rating for right wrist and ankle sprains were denied, with the right ankle sprain being remanded due to insufficient evidence. Service connection for left ankle disorder and psychiatric conditions is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for PTSD was dismissed due to their death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to proceed further.

The Veteran withdrew her claim for an increased initial rating for her acquired psychiatric disorder, and the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for psychiatric disability, right lower extremity reflex sympathetic dystrophy, gastrointestinal disability, and tinnitus due to new evidence. The cases are being remanded for further development.

The appellant's appeal for accrued benefits is dismissed as she was recognized as the substitute claimant and her rights are greater than those for accrued benefits.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion and other pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder will be reconsidered with a new medical opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion and other pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder will be reconsidered with a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected psychiatric disorder, left knee and right knee disabilities, gout, stroke, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, actinic keratosis, bilateral knee scars, ear and forearm scars, sleep apnea, and TDIU. The Board has determined that additional VA treatment records need to be considered before a decision can be made.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional disability compensation and service connection for a heart condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder, as these issues are inextricably intertwined with the claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to complications from a May 2017 colonoscopy.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a VA examination and further review due to insufficient evidence regarding his service connection for sleep disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder has prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment from December 29, 2014, to January 4, 2022.

The Veteran's right nostril scar and right maxillary area scar were not found to meet the criteria for a compensable rating due to lack of disfigurement, gross distortion, or asymmetry.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied as there is no persuasive weight of evidence linking the condition to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA was reopened due to new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of deck logs and Special Operations Unit information, which is necessary for determining service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, based on the Veteran's consistent reports of stressors during his Vietnam service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine on an extraschedular basis was denied. The Board found that the disability picture is adequately described by the existing schedular criteria, and thus, no extraschedular evaluation was warranted. Additionally, the Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities from June 1, 2022, was granted.

The Veteran's LLE radiculopathy claim has been granted with increased ratings. The psychiatric disorder claim is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability was granted a 70 percent rating as of April 2, 2019. The right knee instability and limitation of flexion were both granted the maximum allowable ratings (20% and 10%, respectively). However, the left knee osteoarthritis did not meet the criteria for any higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for breathing disability and acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, have been reopened. The claim of service connection for the residuals of bladder cancer is remanded.,The Board has expanded the Veteran's claims to include breathing disability (bronchitis, COPD, emphysema) and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, tinea versicolor, and an acquired psychiatric disability (depression) have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a causal relationship between these conditions and his service-connected disabilities.