Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depressive disorder with psychotic features), sleep apnea, and bilateral elbow condition have been granted. The decision also remanded several other issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including those related to glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and sickle cell trait, are denied as there is no current diagnosis of a respiratory condition. The claim for service connection for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency is also denied due to its congenital nature.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examinations. The appeals for hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, tongue cancer, acoustic neuroma, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) will be addressed further.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left wrist disability, right foot/ankle disability, and acquired psychiatric disability due to inadequate medical opinions in previous VA examinations. The case is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, ovarian cyst complications (claimed as infertility), acquired psychiatric disorder, asthma, and right knee disability have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the claims by her representative.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a low back disability, and right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with the low back disability. The claim of entitlement to a temporary 100% evaluation due to surgery for a service-connected disability was also denied as there is no service-connected disability.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is granted a 10 percent rating prior to March 10, 2020, and denied any higher rating thereafter.,Service connection for a psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) is denied.,Service connection for headaches is denied.,Service connection for hypertension is denied.,Service connection for left testicle condition is denied.,Service connection for right thumb condition is denied.,The claim to reopen the service connection for hearing loss was denied as no new and material evidence was received.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to November 14, 2011, and December 5, 2011, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability is found to be etiologically related to her active service. The Board grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and development regarding his left shoulder disability and acquired psychiatric disability.

Service connection for bilateral flat feet and an acquired psychiatric disability, to include dysthymic disorder, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and depression, is granted based on aggravation.,The Veteran's bilateral flat feet were aggravated by service.

The petition to reopen the previously disallowed claims for low back disability and depression is granted. The issues of service connection for intervertebral foramina, non-specific osteoarthritis, lumbar post-laminectomy syndrome, connective tissue disc stenosis, abdominal pain, GERD, chronic pancreatitis, foot pain, hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorder (schizoaffective disorder and MDD), suicidal thoughts, insomnia, and tobacco use disorder are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and initial compensable disability rating for arthritis of the left fifth finger to include a mallet deformity were denied. The appeal was remanded due to unclear information regarding the causes of the Veteran's neurological symptoms.

The Veteran's kidney disorder claim is denied as there is no current disability.,For the period from April 14, 2016 to April 14, 2023, the service-connected hypertension was rated at 50 percent. From April 14, 2023 onwards, it was rated at 20 percent.,The Veteran's hypertension claim is denied as there is no evidence of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more, or a minimum evaluation for an individual with a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more who requires continuous medication for control.,The Veteran's heart disorder claim is remanded as the VA examiner needs to provide opinions on service connection and aggravation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and schizophrenia, clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service. Therefore, service connection is denied.

Service connection granted for chronic sinusitis under the PACT Act due to exposure to burn pits.,Service connection granted for headaches secondary to service-connected chronic sinusitis.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional medical inquiry into the claims of an acquired psychiatric disorder and special monthly compensation based on the need for regular Aid & Attendance. The Veteran is service-connected for multiple sclerosis, but not for any specific psychiatric condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) and Hepatitis C due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of these conditions during active duty. The Veteran is required to provide details about his claimed in-service stressors, and both claims are pending further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to new and material evidence. The claims of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, right hand carpal tunnel syndrome, back disorder, neck disorder, right leg disorder, and left leg disorder are all considered.,Service connection has not been established for any of the conditions listed above.

The Board dismissed the issue of service connection for obesity. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, headaches, and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded.