Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2023

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, and the combined effects of these conditions have rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.,The Veteran has multiple service-connected disabilities that cause chronic pain and other symptoms, which aggravate his diagnosed psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition is related to his time in active service and has been granted service connection. The issues of service connection for intracerebral hemorrhage, headaches, aortic valve disorder, and sleep condition are remanded.

The Board has dismissed the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a left shoulder disability due to the Veteran's withdrawal at his July 2022 hearing. The issue of psychiatric disability (to include PTSD and anxiety/depression) is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD and credible reports of in-service stressors, which are sufficient to establish service connection.

The Veteran's June 6, 2012 claim for service connection of insomnia reasonably raised a claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder in addition to a claim of service connection for insomnia. The effective date is granted as June 6, 2012.,The earliest date as of which it is factually ascertainable that symptoms of left lower extremity radiculopathy had occurred is March 5, 2014. The effective date is denied.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions from the VA examiner regarding the aggravation of his acquired psychiatric disorders resulting from treatment at the Cincinnati VAMC in June 2011.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted as service-connected for the purpose of accrued benefits.,The Veteran's right thigh scar is denied as service-connected for the purpose of accrued benefits.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine disability, asthma, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), hypertension, right toe injury, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to determine the appellant's periods of service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The representative asserts secondary service connection is warranted, and a new examination is needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically failing to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding secondary service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders. The Veteran is currently diagnosed with multiple acquired psychiatric disorders and is also service connected for various disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected ankle and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee strain is granted as secondary to his service-connected right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain and left ankle strain. The claims for diabetes mellitus type II, heart condition, and acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of left knee disability and service connection for psychiatric disorder were denied. The Board found no evidence to support a higher rating or service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a head injury and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, anxiety), finding that the evidence is at least in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board has recharacterized the original claim and found that both PTSD and major depressive disorder are related to his military service, but there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error in not obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the diagnosis of major depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are related to her military service and have granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran is granted service connection for a skin disability, right shoulder disability, and bilateral hearing loss disability. Service connection for a back disability, neck disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and adjustment disorder) is denied.,Service connection for the skin disability is established based on in-service exposure to sun and headgear restrictions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as moot because he is already receiving a 100% evaluation for his acquired psychiatric condition, and the additional service-connected knee disability does not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied as there is no competent evidence of current diagnosis or in-service stressor.,Service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome and left carpal tunnel syndrome were also denied due to lack of medical evidence showing the conditions are related to service.