Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of adequate consideration of the Veteran's July 2014 PTSD diagnosis and the inconsistency between that diagnosis and the November 2022 VA medical opinion. The Veteran is required to provide an addendum opinion regarding his psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to missing service records.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for COPD is dismissed as the NOD was untimely filed.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric and/or cognitive disorder, and bilateral vision loss. These claims are REMANDED for further development.,The appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric and/or cognitive disorder, and bilateral vision loss is REMANDED as new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims.,Service connection for COPD remains denied. The claim is REMANDED due to the presence of new and material evidence regarding secondary service connection.,The appeal for a rating in excess of 30 percent for COPD, TDIU, and SMC based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status is REMANDED.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to deficiencies in the October 2023 decision, including not ensuring substantial compliance with prior remand instructions and failing to obtain relevant medical records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired mental disorder is now pending again.

The Veteran is granted a schedular TDIU effective September 28, 2010.,The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to an extraschedular TIDU based solely on service-connected headaches for referral to the Director of Compensation Service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is granted as service connected. His bilateral hearing loss disability does not warrant a compensable rating. The issue of service connection for skin cancer is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than January 23, 2013, for the award of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder and migraine headaches was denied.,An initial rating greater than 50 percent for migraine headaches is also denied.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The appeal will be remanded to verify a claimed PTSD stressor and obtain private treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines are now rated at 50 percent, effective November 7, 2021.,The Veteran's service-connected IBS is now rated at 30 percent, effective November 7, 2021.

The Board has determined that there are missing service records and the RO did not obtain all relevant information. The case is being remanded to ensure all available records are obtained.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient duty-to-assist actions and an inadequate opinion regarding the etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's mental health treatment in January 2015 is being reviewed for its potential impact on his current mental health conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, finding that there was no showing of chronicity or continuity of treatment and insufficient evidence to link current disability to in-service conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a skin disability, and a back disability have been denied. The Board found no current diagnosed conditions that meet the criteria for these disorders.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a link between any current disabilities and service.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disability, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), headaches as secondary to service-connected tinnitus, and insomnia due to service-connected disabilities. The decision is based on the Veteran's reported symptoms and diagnoses provided by medical professionals.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD is granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including bilateral vision loss, hearing loss, psychiatric disorders, tinnitus, right neck lesion, shoulder disabilities, carpal tunnel syndrome and wrist pain, lumbar spine disability, colon disability with associated abdominal scar, and foot disabilities. The reasons given include lack of evidence showing the conditions were present during or within one year after service, no credible link to service, and failure to show continuity of symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and depression, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his in-service combat stressors. The appeal of the proposed finding of incompetency was dismissed as premature, and the appeal for tinnitus is moot.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims for service connection for left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, and low back disorder are remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for VA loan guaranty benefits is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need to secure a complete August 2004 rating decision that awarded service connection for schizophrenia.