Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2024

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for asthma and a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae, but remanded claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, headaches, back disorder, and sinus disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left upper extremity scar, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD, diagnosed as bipolar I disorder), allergic rhinitis, chronic gastrointestinal disability, and anemia. The case is remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of various conditions are being remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's claim for tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of a formal or informal claim before May 5, 2017.,Service connection for PTSD and other psychiatric disorders was denied due to lack of verification of in-service stressor.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection for any of the conditions appealed.

The Board has determined that the decision on appeal is not final and requires additional development due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error. An addendum VA opinion is needed to address the correct legal standards and the holding in Spicer v. McDonough.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether S.R. was permanently incapable of self-support prior to her 18th birthday due to her psychiatric disabilities, and thus grants recognition as a helpless child.

An effective date before April 7, 2014, for the grant of service connection for a psychiatric disability and traumatic brain injury is denied.,An evaluation in excess of 70 percent for a psychiatric disability and traumatic brain injury is denied. An evaluation of 50 percent, but no higher, for migraine headaches from April 7, 2014, is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any claimed conditions and therefore service connection is denied. The issues of hypertension, heart disability, disabilities of the upper and lower extremities, anemia, sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric condition, finding insufficient evidence to link his current mental health condition to his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including an acquired psychiatric disorder, residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), headaches, bilateral eye refractive error, cervical spine disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, bilateral hip/thigh disorder, bilateral upper and lower extremity nerve damage, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and dry skin disorder. The denial is based on the lack of diagnosed conditions in service or recent to the filing of the claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. His bilateral hearing loss was rated noncompensable, his tinnitus at the minimum schedular rating of 10%, and his acquired psychiatric disorder was not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions were denied in the April 2020 rating decision. The Board is denying these claims based on finality of the decision and lack of new evidence or arguments.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis. Service connection for PTSD, adjustment disorder with anxious mood and/or depressed mood, and any other mental disorders are denied due to lack of a formal DSM-5 diagnosis during the pendency of the claim.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right hand is granted. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and gastrointestinal disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's increased ratings for his acquired psychiatric disorder and right knee degenerative joint disease and meniscal tear to include chondromalacia were denied. The rating for the acquired psychiatric disorder was maintained at 70 percent, while the rating for the right knee condition was increased to 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA opinions and failure to consider all relevant evidence. The claims will be reconsidered on their merits.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus, psychiatric disorders, OSA, and bilateral hearing loss due to pre-existing duty as a field artillery turret mechanic. The Veteran's assertions of in-service noise exposure are considered.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records. The issues of TBI, psychiatric disability, sleep impairment, headache, vestibular disorder, shoulder disabilities, knee, ankle, foot, and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy will be reconsidered.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for additional medical examination and consideration of new evidence. The Veteran's initial disability rating for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder is currently at 10 percent, but he believes it does not accurately reflect the severity of his condition.