Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2024

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and granted service connection for PTSD. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders are related to her military service, particularly due to incidents of military sexual trauma (MST) and other stressors.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected psychiatric condition and/or arteriosclerotic heart disease. The VA must obtain a new opinion on this issue.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including Major Depressive Disorder and PTSD, is related to active service. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for diabetes mellitus (to include complications resulting therefrom), and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability have all been denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for heat stroke disability has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,The claim of reopening the service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include major depressive disorder and insomnia is granted, with a finding that new and material evidence has been received. The Board also grants service connection for this condition.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and evaluation to determine service connection, a disability rating, an effective date, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and separate evaluations for her colon condition with colon polyps and GERD are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new and material evidence. The claim is granted as her current psychiatric disorders are found to be related to in-service sexual assault.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD and a left shoulder disability, finding no evidence of current disabilities or in-service stressors that would support the claims.

The Board has ordered remand for further development and examination in order to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine disability, and cervical spine disability. The issues are being remanded due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to a stressor that occurred during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD and depression) and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his military service, specifically incidents involving a ship collision and attending his sister's funeral during service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disability is reopened, and the claims for sleep apnea, back disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and TDIU are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased evaluation of eczema is dismissed. The Board grants service connection for a vestibular disorder secondary to sinusitis and stress urinary incontinence.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (depression/anxiety) and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, but both issues are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral foot disorder, dental trauma upper front teeth, residuals of a broken nose, low back disability, sleep apnea, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence. Additional medical records are needed from Social Security Administration, and VA examinations are required for each issue.

The petition to reopen the claims of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders is granted. The appeal is allowed to that extent only, and the issues are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with an average hearing acuity of Level I in both ears.,For the period prior to September 22, 2022, the Veteran's osteoarthritis of the right shoulder was not productive of limitation of motion or other impairment. After that date, it is rated as 40 percent disabling and above 40 percent thereafter.,The left wrist disorder did not manifest during service, is not otherwise etiologically related to service, arthritis did not manifest within one year of discharge, and is not caused by the Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis. The acquired psychiatric disorder (Persistent Depressive Disorder) was also found not to be secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and/or tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cause of death and DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, finding that there was no evidence linking his acquired psychiatric disorder to his military service.