Acquired psychiatric disorder decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disabilities, bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, tinnitus, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, digestive disabilities including irritable bowel syndrome with abdominal pain and nausea, pelvic organ disabilities, iron deficiency anemia, and genital herpes. Service connection was denied for acne, tendonitis, fibromyalgia, painful joints, left shin splints, right shin splints, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, left carpal tunnel syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome, respiratory infection, GERD, PTSD, anxiety condition, manic-depressive reaction, and psychiatric disorder other than unspecified depressive disorder with symptoms of suicidal ideation. An initial 50% rating was granted for the service-connected unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU, dismissing one claim due to a withdrawal.

The Board granted service connection for patellar chondromalacia, right knee and an acquired psychiatric disability, to include insomnia, chronic stress disorder, and other reactions to severe stress.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease, asthma, transient ischemic attack, neurocognitive disorder (dementia), and acquired psychiatric disorder (other specified depressive disorder) but denied service connection for renal toxicity. Several issues were remanded.

The Board granted an initial 70 percent rating for the Veteran's psychiatric disorder from August 30, 2006 to October 18, 2021.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 50 percent for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied service connection for depression (psychiatric disorder) and remanded the claim for a compensable rating for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral eye disability.

The Board denied service connection for asthma, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), a right shoulder disorder, and a back disorder due to lack of evidence supporting the claims.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as depression and substance abuse, is granted due to being secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The left shoulder disability and the rating for the left ankle disability are denied.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's other specified mental disorder due to another medical condition, as the evidence did not show a level of occupational and social impairment greater than that associated with a 30 percent rating.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to obtain a medical opinion.

The Board granted a 30 percent disability rating for chronic kidney disease effective August 10, 2022, and denied earlier effective dates and higher ratings.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of October 5, 2023, for the award of a 50 percent rating for anxiety disorder with depressed mood and schizophrenia.

The Board granted service connection for schizophrenia and depression, as secondary to the now service-connected schizophrenia.

The Board remands the claim for an adequate VA examination and opinion to address the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including whether it is related to service or caused by a service-connected TBI.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, and a headache disorder to correct an error by the AOJ to satisfy its duty to assist the Veteran under 38 U.S.C. §5103A.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left-hand, right-hand, left leg, right leg, headache, memory loss, and psychiatric (including PTSD) conditions, to correct a duty-to-assist error.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's service-connected left hand injury ring finger. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, degenerative disc disease, left cubital tunnel syndrome, and left elbow strain were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and OSA to correct duty to assist errors, including obtaining a VA examination and determining potential toxic exposure risk activities under the PACT Act.

The appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied, while the appeals for other conditions were remanded for further review.