Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's pending claims for recognition as a substitute claimant and service connection for his psychiatric disorder were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have any pending claims at the time of his death, thus denying substitution.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of evidence of formal or informal claims prior to July 17, 2017.,The effective date for the award of service connection was set at July 17, 2017.

The reduction of the 70% rating for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder to a 50% rating was improper and is void ab initio. The restoration of the 70% rating is granted.,The reduction of the 20% rating for the Veteran's back disability to a 10% rating from September 1, 2020 to June 11, 2021 was also improper and is void ab initio. The restoration of the 20% rating is granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that his current diagnosis is related to his in-service experiences.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has granted readjudication of the previously denied claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and a thyroid condition due to new and relevant evidence. The appeal is dismissed for the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.,The appeals for hypertension and thyroid conditions are remanded as there was a failure to comply with the duty-to-assist.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability was granted a 70% rating and TDIU effective October 28, 2019. The Board found that the increase in severity of the condition occurred on October 24, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence was submitted to warrant readjudication of the previously denied service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board dismissed the appeal for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for sleep apnea due to untimeliness. The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, asthma, sinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hypertension, headaches, bilateral plantar fasciitis, sciatica, right knee disability, left knee disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a PTSD diagnosis and his unspecified anxiety disorder is not related to service, thus denying service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and a duty to assist error. The Veteran's back condition may be related to his active duty service, but more development is needed. For PTSD, there are inconsistencies in when the disability began that need clarification.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his active military service.

The Veteran's hypertension, ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease), diabetes mellitus type 2, and bilateral hearing loss are all granted as they are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service.,Service connection for OSA, an acquired psychiatric disability, and erectile dysfunction is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and metatarsalgia. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD and anxiety), headache disorder, TBI, pseudofolliculitis barbae, sinusitis, left knee disability, right knee disability, and tinea versicolor of the arms, leg, chest, and face are all denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has not been rated higher than the current 0 percent evaluation due to the lack of evidence showing that his hearing impairment more nearly approximates a compensable level.,The VA examiner did not provide sufficient rationale for the opinion regarding lumbosacral strain, and an addendum is needed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD has been denied.,The effective date for the Veteran's service-connected PTSD is denied as it does not meet the criteria prior to May 22, 2013.

The Veteran's service connection claim for DMII is granted. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has decided that service connection for a kidney disability is denied, and the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (diagnosed as dementia and depression) is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the request to readjudicate the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including alcohol use disorder due to lack of new and relevant evidence.