Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2024

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for increased evaluation of a psychiatric disability and entitlement to TDIU as the AOJ issued these decisions while another AMA appeal stream was pending.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for PTSD and left knee disorder due to a failure to provide a VA examination in accordance with the duty to assist. The Veteran is not entitled to a presumption-based service connection, as no exposure basis was provided.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied as the disability is already at its maximum schedular rating.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability under VA regulations.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and anxiety, is denied due to lack of a diagnosed current disability conforming to the DSM-5 criteria.,Service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is denied as the condition is less likely than not related to active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's schizophrenia did not begin during service and is not related to any in-service injury or disease. The claim for service connection for schizophrenia is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain an examination regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, which may be related to active duty service or Parkinson's disease.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it was caused by weight gain from the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder and musculoskeletal disorders.

The Veteran's right ankle fracture is granted a 10% rating, but no more. Service connection for IBS and sinusitis are denied.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability is related to his active duty service in the Persian Gulf, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (acquired psychiatric disorder, sinusitis maxillary with allergic rhinitis, and tinnitus) have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to a lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is remanded as there are insufficient records to determine the nature and etiology of her psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss, vision disorder (blurry vision), psychiatric disorder (depression and anxiety), left ankle sprain, and right ankle sprain due to potential errors in the initial decision-making process.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for psychiatric disability, broken ankle, torn rotator cuff, and irritable bowel syndrome as they are not currently pending. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is also denied a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including thoracolumbar spine arthritis with degenerative disc disease, acquired psychiatric disorder including unspecified depression, and sleep apnea, combine to a 70 percent rating. The Board finds the evidence in balance as to whether these conditions prevent the Veteran from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations and opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is now rated at 100 percent effective September 26, 2013. The issue of entitlement to a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is moot due to the grant of a 100 percent rating for his service-connected psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection. The acquired psychiatric disability, asthma, COPD, and sleep apnea are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes, foot rash/fungus, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been denied. The Board found no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year thereafter.,A VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current hypertension and acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to her service-connected musculoskeletal and psychiatric disabilities, which prevent her from performing physical or sedentary work.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than unspecified insomnia, a bladder or urinary disorder, and GERD have been denied. The Veteran's claim for increased rating of his headache disability has also been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including SSA records and VA treatment records. The issues are related to his service-connected tinnitus and acquired psychiatric disorder.