Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2024

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, claimed as secondary to service-connected disabilities, requires further examination and opinion due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's asthma has been granted service connection due to presumed exposure to fine particulate matter during his service in the Gulf War. The Veteran's tinnitus was denied as not shown in service or within one year of discharge, and not otherwise etiologically related.,Service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to a lack of an examination. Service connection for a psychiatric disability (to include PTSD, Anxiety) and erectile dysfunction are also remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, headaches, left hip disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, erectile dysfunction, and dental decay. The remand requires additional examinations and evaluations for these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal concerning the issues of service connection for advanced facet disease, increased ratings for prostate cancer residuals, psychiatric disability, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Board has remanded several issues related to the appellant's service-connected disabilities, including ratings for lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as effective dates for certain conditions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions and records to address deficiencies in prior examinations.

The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension remains pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and whether his bilateral shoulder disabilities are related to his service-connected conditions.

The appeal for service connection for high cholesterol was dismissed, and the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, eye disorder (to include glaucoma), diabetes, hypertension, anemia, sinusitis, headache disorder, right elbow disability, left elbow disability, right wrist disability, and left wrist disability were denied. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was reopened based on new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted as service connected due to military sexual trauma. The claims for back pain, hemorrhoids, bilateral wrist disorders, bilateral leg disorders, and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder), right hip disorder, right knee disorder, and right ankle disorder due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection will be granted if there is a current disability, an in-service injury or disease, and a nexus between the two.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in providing notice of the Veteran's right to a hearing before the AOJ. The Veteran is entitled to such a hearing on his claim for service connection for psychiatric disability, which may be secondary to his service-connected foot disability.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) are denied. The TDIU was granted as of April 3, 2019, which is one year prior to the original claim for increased rating in April 5, 2016. DEA benefits were awarded effective April 3, 2019.

The appeal as to hyperthyroidism is dismissed due to untimely filing. The Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder and immune disorder are denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to their impact on occupational and social functioning.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his disabilities and active service. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if any of his claimed conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and duty-to-assist errors. The issues include bullous disorder/hypertrophic keloid scars, left knee septic condition as secondary to bullous disorder/hypertrophic keloid scars, acquired psychiatric disorders, high blood pressure, arthritis of the lower extremities, degenerative disc disease of the low back, and jaw/speech impairment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left ankle pain, as well as his acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, stimulant use, and cannabis use disorder), due to a failure to consider new evidence in the original decision.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding the evidence to be in relative equipoise as to whether it is causally related to the Veteran's service.