Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's right knee disability and lumbar spine disability are found to have onset in service, warranting service connection.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability and bilateral lower extremity neuropathic pain.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 1, 2019 for the assignment of a 70 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected unspecified trauma disorder (psychiatric disability). The decision is based on evidence showing impairment in most areas due to symptoms such as impaired impulse control and anger outbursts.

The Board has dismissed the issues of service connection for a cervical spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression) due to the April 2021 rating decision not adjudicating these claims, and subsequent grant by a June 2021 rating decision. The evidence does not support a current diagnosis of a mental disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a lack of VA examination and medical opinion, as well as incomplete evidence in the record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for unspecified neurocognitive disorder and Alzheimer's (claimed as an acquired psychiatric disorder) is remanded due to a duty to assist error in obtaining relevant medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for prostate cancer from June 1, 2016, is remanded due to a duty to assist error in obtaining private treatment records and scheduling an examination.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of October 6, 2023, but no earlier, for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance is remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as of June 14, 2016, due to his service-connected psychiatric disorder and left shoulder disability. The effective date for the grant of a TDIU is based on the receipt of a claim for service connection for a psychiatric condition.

The rating for the acquired psychiatric disorder was reinstated to 70 percent effective January 23, 2020. The Veteran's TBI and migraine headache disabilities were not rated higher than their current levels.

The Veteran's surviving spouse is requesting special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance due to her husband's service-connected schizophrenia. The case must be remanded for a retrospective medical opinion regarding the aggravation of prostate cancer by schizophrenia.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for his back disability was denied, as the evidence did not show flexion limited to at least 30 degrees or ankylosis.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (Somatic Symptoms Disorder and Depression) was granted, as it is secondary to his service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting an initial 70 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability and psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The AOJ will need to obtain additional medical opinions addressing the issues of secondary service causation and whether a superimposed acquired psychiatric disorder is present.

The Board has denied an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, is related to his active-duty service and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that there was a failure to obtain an adequate medical opinion on the appellant's claimed acquired psychiatric condition, and thus remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence at the time of the November 2021 agency decision.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran's claims for service connection are not supported by the evidence.

The Board has granted an effective date of August 16, 2021 for the Veteran's entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities. The decision is based on medical records indicating that the Veteran required assistance with daily care from August 16, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a right foot disorder have been denied as there is no evidence of any injury, disease or event in service to which the current conditions may be related.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and hearing loss, based on in-service noise exposure. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right and left ankle arthralgia, a sleep disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder, left shoulder osteoarthritis, right knee disability, right hip OA, left hip OA, cervical spine disability, and hearing loss have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.,The Veteran's claims were remanded for further action on his hypertension and GERD/hiatal hernia.