Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's initial compensable disability ratings for left and right foot hallux valgus have been denied. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for acute sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depressive disorder), a right hip disability, a left hip disability, a right wrist disability, and sciatica of the right lower extremity.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder, finding that the Veteran's mental health problems did not have onset in service or manifest to a compensable degree within one year of service. The claim was also denied for tinnitus due to lack of evidence showing it had its onset during service.,The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, attributing it to noise exposure during basic training.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder as there is no medical evidence showing a current disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and a sleep disorder, was denied. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for hypothyroidism due to potential exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to readjudicate his claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disability and bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to November 7, 2019, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is denied.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD (to include depression) are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to duty-to-assist errors and additional development is required. The Veteran's mental health, bilateral knee and hand disabilities, and headaches are being reviewed.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinnitus is denied as the current rating of 10% already reflects the maximum schedular rating available.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as her hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable rating schedule.,The claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, low back, neck, right-hand, and left-hand disabilities are remanded due to new relevant evidence having been received since their last adjudication.,The claim for service connection for stress incontinence is remanded as new relevant evidence has been received since its last adjudication.,The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is remanded as new relevant evidence has been received since its last adjudication.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD due to the lack of verified in-service stressors. Service connection for hypertension is granted based on presumptive exposure to herbicide agents.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and chronic kidney disease, post-transplant, secondary to hypertension are remanded as there are procedural errors.

The Veteran's spontaneous pneumothorax is not rated higher than noncompensable due to his lung function scores.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including ADHD, is remanded as the AOJ failed to obtain a medical opinion addressing all relevant theories of entitlement.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability are remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for psychiatric disability was granted with an effective date of October 24, 2016. The RO assigned a 30 percent rating and remanded the issues of rating in excess of 30 percent prior to September 1, 2021; special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria (SMC housebound) prior to September 1, 2021; Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) prior to September 1, 2021; and total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to September 1, 2021.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for a sebaceous cyst, neck is dismissed as the proper claims processing rules have not been followed.,New and relevant evidence has been received to support the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right forearm condition. The Board will now readjudicate this issue.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae is not rated compensably, as the affected area does not exceed 5% of total body or exposed areas.,There is no evidence of bilateral flatfoot during service or at any time since service. Service connection for this condition is denied.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied due to lack of a current diagnosis.,The Veteran's migraine headaches and left ankle disability are remanded as the VA examinations were not conducted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, anxiety, and PTSD), plantar fasciitis left lower extremity, plantar fasciitis right lower extremity, and left shoulder disability due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right hand disability, low back disability, and psychiatric disability are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder and the grant of TDIU are denied as it is not factually ascertainable that the disability worsened within the one-year period prior to January 16, 2020.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) for the entire period on appeal, excluding a temporary total rating period from January 30, 2024, to February 29, 2024.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is granted. The claims for service connection for hemorrhoids, psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, and prostate cancer are remanded.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 7, 2018 for Total Disability Rating for Individual Unemployability (TDIU) and Eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. chapter 35 (DEA). The Veteran was not in receipt of a total service-connected disability prior to this date.