Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for back disorder, hemorrhoids, and tinnitus. Service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disabilities, allergic rhinitis, kidney disability, ED, GERD, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, shoulder disabilities, liver disability, and lung disability. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and relevant evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claim for erectile dysfunction/impotence is denied as the new evidence does not relate to this specific issue, while the psychiatric disorder claim is remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a lack of access to certain medical records stored in Vista Imaging or similar repositories. The AOJ is instructed to obtain and associate with the claims file complete updated clinical records, including those from VA and non-VA treatment providers.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder with major depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent for the period beginning October 27, 2021. The rating was denied as his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has denied service connection for back, left knee, and right knee conditions. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and anxiety) is remanded due to a misapplication of the presumption of soundness.

The Veteran's tinnitus and voiding dysfunction were denied as not related to her military service. The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus, hysterectomy, left ankle condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (phobias), and rhinitis need further examination and opinion.,The Veteran was provided with a remand for additional examinations and opinions to address her claims of tinnitus, voiding dysfunction, bilateral pes planus, hysterectomy, left ankle condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (phobias), and rhinitis.

The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities is granted from October 1, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his back disability and TDIU are remanded due to procedural errors. The earlier effective dates for DEA eligibility and TDIU are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric condition, fatigue, headaches, heart stent, and rashes on the feet, face, and arms are being remanded due to procedural errors in scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but remanded the issue of service connection for PTSD due to unverified in-service stressors.

The Veteran's service connection for tinnitus and major depressive disorder is granted, along with the restoration of her ratings for bilateral temporomandibular disorder and both knee disorders. The rating reductions for left and right patellofemoral pain syndrome are dismissed as moot.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and other specified trauma-related disorder. The evidence supports a finding that her current symptoms are related to in-service sexual assault.

The Board has determined that additional development is required for the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and a heart condition. The case will be remanded to obtain SSA records, VA medical opinions, and toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) opinions.

The Veteran's cervical spine strain with DDD is rated at 40 percent, effective May 1, 2011. The rating for headaches remains at 10 percent. Service connection for a psychiatric disorder secondary to the cervical spine disability and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C, fatigue symptoms including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), and an acquired psychiatric disability due to inadequate reasoning and lack of clarity in the medical records.

The Veteran's right hand calluses are denied as there is no evidence of chronicity of care for his right hand friction burn, and the VA opinions found that it is less likely than not that the current right hand calluses were caused by service. The left ear hearing loss is also denied as the auditory thresholds in both ears did not meet the criteria for a disability.,The Veteran's neck condition, memory loss due to traumatic brain injury, ulnar nerve condition, left hand and right hand nerve conditions, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), bilateral flat feet and bunions, bilateral hallux valgus/bunions, and bilateral hammer toes are all remanded as further development is needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is at least as likely as not related to military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board granted initial disability ratings of 40 percent for right upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy and 30 percent for left upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, but denied higher ratings for the lower extremities and a compensable rating for hypertension. The Board also denied an increased rating for the acquired psychiatric disorder from September 17, 2021, and granted TDIU from September 4, 2014 to June 29, 2015.

The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease is granted service connection as it was caused by his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim has been remanded for further review.