Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition. The VA will need to obtain a new medical opinion that addresses whether the current disability is related to service, including any in-service incident of sexual harassment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity sciatica are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, concluding that there is no current disability and no indication of one during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted, effective as of September 18, 2021.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, ED, and OSA are granted as secondary to the service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 14, 2002 for the grant of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including Major Depressive Disorder). The case is remanded to assign initial ratings for the period from June 14, 2002 to March 30, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for dental and oral condition (bruxism), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and sleep apnea have been denied. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is being remanded.,Service connection cannot be established as the evidence does not show a current disability or any link to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic paranoid schizophrenia was denied in October 1981. The Board found that the effective date of the award cannot be prior to July 14, 2021.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for paranoid schizophrenia. The Veteran is requested to undergo a VA examination to determine if his current condition is related to his active-duty service in the U.S. Navy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hemorrhoids has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as MST, has been granted due to credible evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for an earlier effective date and increased ratings due to conflicting medical evidence and duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's psychiatric disorder and fibromyalgia are inextricably intertwined with the TDIU and DEA issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to inextricably intertwined claims for service connection, and will adjudicate these claims together. The psychiatric condition claim is being considered again as part of this process.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 100 percent for essential thrombocythemia/myeloproliferative disorder (thrombocythemia) is dismissed as the maximum schedular rating has been assigned.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to August 15, 2019, for a 100 percent rating for thrombocythemia is denied because the increase in disability preceded the claim by more than one year.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to August 15, 2019, for eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 is denied as the criteria were not met prior to that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a heart disorder, including CAD, as there is no probative evidence supporting that the claimed disabilities were caused by VA treatment.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied. The tinnitus and psoriasis with scarring are rated at the maximum allowed under VA regulations, while the acquired psychiatric disorder is not rated higher due to a lack of evidence showing impairment beyond what is already covered by the current rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his thoracolumbar spine disability is denied, and the service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded to obtain a VA medical opinion.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and mental disorder due to premature filing of the Notice of Disagreement.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA eligibility claims are being remanded due to the potential for earlier effective dates based on evidence of unemployability prior to September 14, 2017.,The VA is required to consider whether the Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities prior to September 14, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and requests for additional evidence. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed again with new information.

Service connection is granted for deviated septum, back disability (lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis), left elbow lateral epicondylitis, left wrist tendonitis, psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder), non-allergic rhinitis, enlarged tonsils, anemia, and disability manifested by widespread muscle and joint pain.,Service connection is denied for tinnitus.