Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2024

The Board dismissed the claims of service connection for various conditions due to a lack of an initial substitution eligibility determination by the AOJ.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has determined that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to insufficient evidence of total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depression and anxiety disorder, was found to be causally linked to his service-connected traumatic brain injury. His tinnitus was also granted based on credible reports of in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's loss of use of a creative organ and acquired psychiatric disability, including insomnia, depression, and anxiety, are granted as service-connected. However, the rating for his acquired psychiatric disability remains at 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, acquired psychiatric disability (unspecified depressive disorder and insomnia), and sleep apnea due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. The issues will be reconsidered with additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, leading to a grant of TDIU. Additionally, he is eligible for SMC at the housebound rate due to his psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The evidence shows that the Veteran's current psychiatric condition is due to or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to September 11, 2013, for both service connection and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits. The issues are related as they both hinge on the Veteran's effective date for his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as sleep-wake disorder and PTSD), a low back disorder, right knee disorders, left knee disorders, right foot disorders, and left foot disorders are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The claims will be reconsidered after new examinations have been conducted.

The Veteran withdrew all pending appeals, including those for higher ratings and service connection.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for service connection of acquired psychiatric conditions, including PTSD, and depression. As a result, the Board dismissed these claims.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for hypertension as a matter of law, denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and remanded claims for service connection for various conditions including a lumbar spine disorder, bilateral plantar fasciitis, vertigo, sleep apnea, skin cancer, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disability (other than PTSD) and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and severity of his low back disability prior to August 3, 2021.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left leg disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to duty-to-assist errors and issues related to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with additional evidence and a new opinion from VA.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to duty-to-assist errors and inadequate examination. The case will be returned to VA for further action, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic psychiatric disability (claimed as depression and anxiety) and sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for a right ankle disability is denied.,Service connection for a left foot disability is denied.,Service connection for a left hand disability is denied.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (anxiety) is denied.,Service connection for a back disability is denied.,Service connection for right side sciatica is denied.,Service connection for left side sciatica is denied.,Service connection for a skin rash is denied.,Service connection for a right leg disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, right knee disability, left knee disability, and psychiatric disability (including depression and PTSD) due to a duty-to-assist error regarding private treatment records. The Veteran is requested to provide authorization for VA to obtain these records.