Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, finding that there was no evidence of a disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to procedural errors and the need for additional medical examinations. The issues include psychiatric disorders, cognitive conditions, thrombocytopenia, tinnitus, hypertension, foot conditions, knee conditions, and shoulder conditions.

The Veteran's claims for left-ear hearing loss and right-ear hearing loss have been granted. Claims for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left shoulder disorder, low back disorder, and acquired mental disorder (PTSD) are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder was denied as there is no evidence that his current symptoms are caused by an in-service stressor or any other incident of active service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The case is remanded due to the need to verify a reported in-service stressor.

The Veteran's tinnitus and left knee strain with degenerative arthritis are granted service connection. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied, and the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) is remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a left ankle disorder and lumbosacral disorder are granted. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The issue of service connection for COPD was withdrawn during the May 2022 hearing.

The Veteran's Addison's disease rating is granted at 60 percent effective May 31, 2017. The claim for a compensable rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder (insomnia) and TDIU rating are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bladder disability, thyroid disorder, recurrent leg sore residuals, bilateral lower extremity neurological disability, hysterectomy residuals, sleep disorder, and psychiatric disability (claimed as memory loss), finding that there is no evidence of a relationship between these conditions and service or any other service-connected condition.,The Board concluded that the Veteran's reported symptoms do not meet the criteria for service connection based on the lack of competent medical evidence linking her disabilities to service or any other service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a new VA examination and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and whether his ADHD preexisted service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development to include new VA examinations and opinions regarding his service-connected disabilities, including a lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), and erectile dysfunction. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings and service connection are inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the appeals for additional development due to a failure to provide proper notice of substitution.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus has been withdrawn. The Board has remanded several service connection and rating issues due to the need for additional evidence or examinations.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including other specified trauma and stressor related disorder and anxiety, is granted as service connection due to the in-service military sexual trauma.,Service connection for PTSD is denied. The Board found that the DSM criteria were not met.,Genital herpes is granted as service-connected based on the Veteran's reported onset during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than unspecified anxiety disorder with unspecified depressive disorder, to include PTSD due to MST and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is remanded. The Board finds that a new VA examination is required to clarify the results of the October 2017 VA examination and determine if the Veteran has PTSD due to MST or whether his other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder is related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD) and for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of any acquired psychiatric disability, nor was there sufficient evidence to establish service connection based on direct service connection or aggravation of a pre-existing condition. For his bilateral hearing loss, the Veteran's pure tone thresholds were within normal limits with no significant speech discrimination impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome (claimed as lower back condition) and denied the claims for right ear hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorder, and an effective date prior to June 30, 2016.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to lack of in-service evidence and potential TERA exposure.,Service connection for a sleep disorder (including sleep apnea) is remanded due to potential TERA exposure.,Service connection for any acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded due to potential TERA exposure.,Service connection for headaches, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability, is remanded due to potential TERA exposure.,Service connection for a back condition is remanded due to lack of in-service evidence and potential TERA exposure.,Service connection for a left shoulder condition is remanded due to lack of in-service evidence and potential TERA exposure.,Service connection for a right shoulder condition is remanded due to lack of in-service evidence and potential TERA exposure.,Service connection for a left ankle condition is remanded due to lack of in-service evidence and potential TERA exposure.,Service connection for a right ankle condition is remanded due to lack of in-service evidence and potential TERA exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, right foot condition, sinus condition, and migraines due to insufficient medical opinions and lack of evidence addressing service connection.